Socrates - Philosophy and Happiness
Socrates (470-399 BC)
Greek philosopher (pictured right) who challenged people to improve themselves.
Some of them hated this (particularly politicians), and he was charged with;
- corrupting the minds of young people.
- not believing in the gods of Greece.
Found guilty and sentenced to death, he poisoned himself by drinking hemlock.
He never wrote anything down and most of our knowledge about him comes from another great Greek philosopher,
Plato, his student (pictured right).
For more detail see...
The Trial and Death of Socrates in the
History Highlights section.
His tips for a happy life
1. Purpose and integrity
a) question your knowledge and wisdom
Socrates had one great aim: to question people to make them aware of:
- the importance of becoming a good and wise person.
So know yourself (see point 2), and welcome people challenging you (see point 4).
b) do what's right
Have the courage to do what you think is right, not what anybody else tells you
Virtue makes you happy, and no one does wrong willingly, only out of ignorance.
c) keep your integrity
Live by the truth and moral values (particularly love - see point 7)
2. Know yourself (self-knowledge)
Examine yourself and honestly list your strengths and weaknesses, so that you can:
- fully exploit your strengths
- do something about your weaknesses.
“The unexamined life is not worth living”, Socrates said.
He would have loved the question:
If you met a Martian, how would you describe yourself?
3. Never stop learning
Knowledge is the only way to a happy life. So
- have the humility to admit that you always have something to learn because of your
ignorance.
“I know that I know nothing”, Socrates said.
4. Question everything
He loved walking the streets of Athens to:
- ask people an important question about life (e.g. what is good, right, friendship or courage?)
- help them to understand it through a series of other questions and answers (now called Socratic or
dialectic questioning).
Such questioning forces you to fully understand words you might take for granted.
For example, courage might involve obstinacy (which is bad), as well as the virtues of
persistence and determination.
So:
- continually question and justify your beliefs.
- hate dogmatism (i.e. never believe something without questioning its truth).
5. Think
Think about yourself and the right way to live.
Socrates once stood motionless for 24 hours thinking and saw himself as a gadfly making
lazy people think about themselves and their lives.
6. Sort out your problems now
Although it's painful, you must:
- admit your weaknesses and problems.
7. Love
- don’t hate anyone (including your enemies)
- see other people's point of view (i.e. empathize).
- never return evil and turn the other cheek.
8. Be good and wise, not rich and beautiful
Happiness comes from:
a) virtue and knowledge of what's good
Socrates controversially believed that you don't do wrong willingly but out of ignorance (i.e. you do wrong
because you don't know that it's wrong).
b) worthwhile work
He taught people for free, because he wanted them to learn about themselves.
c) the soul (not money)
Your soul is the most important thing in your life.
So goodness is much more important than wealth and
looks.
Socrates was ugly, wore old clothes and lived on little money (because he had the self-control to avoid
unnecessary spending).
“Virtue springs not from possessions, but from
virtue springs possessions and all other human blessings”, he said.
9. Have fun
He was liked because of his charm and great sense of humour.
10. Trust yourself
You have the power to change your life. So:
- be positive and quietly confident in your ability.
- take responsibility for your success (do what you want after taking advice, not what
somebody tells you).
- do what’s right: (it’s much better to be wronged than do wrong).
Key quotes on peace of
mind
To find yourself, think for yourself.
Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.
Key quotes on
success
The unexamined life is not worth living.
Know thyself.
Key quote on learning and
wisdom
I know that I know nothing.
Key quote on
money
Virtue springs not from possessions, but from virtue springs possessions and all other human blessings.
Key quote on
communication
False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.
Key quote on
education
Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
Key quote on the learning
organization
A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more.
Key quote on
ethics
No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.
Key quote on time
management
Beware the barrenness of a busy life.
Key quote on love
From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.
Key quote on
health
Eat to live, not live to
eat.
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