Socrates and The Story of The Young Man Who Sought Wisdom
There is a story about a brave young man who sought Socrates with the desire to become a scholar. He turned to the great Greek philosopher and said, "Oh, illustrious Socrates, I come to you to gain knowledge."
In response, Socrates led the young man through the streets to the seashore, where they sank into the water. Then he asked the young man, "Now tell me, what do you want?"
"Knowledge, O wise Socrates," replied the young man with a smile.
Socrates put his hands on the young man's shoulders and pushed him into the water. Thirty seconds later the philosopher lifted his disciple out of the water.
"Tell me one more time, what did you say you wanted?" he asked.
"Wisdom, illustrious and wise Socrates," replied the young man with difficulty breathing.
Socrates pushed him again into the water. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five, forty, forty-five.... Eventually, Socrates brought him to the surface. Socrates asked him again, "What do you want, young man?"
He struggled to answer. "Wisdom, a wise and wonderful ..." Socrates immediately threw the young man underwater, this time holding him there for almost a minute. When the young man came to the surface longing for oxygen, Socrates asked him, "What do you want?"
"Air!" the young man shouted. "I need air!"
"When you long for wisdom as you long for air, then you will have it," came the unperturbed answer of the wise Socrates.
If you have any problems, break it down into a series of questions and you will find the solution you are looking for in the answers.
This method is designed to help you examine your own beliefs and assess their value.
It is debatable whether he believed that humans could become wise, but it is certain that he drew a clear line between wisdom and ignorance.
People possess certain fundamental philosophical or intellectual virtues, and these virtues are the most valuable possessions in the world.
In his view, to act with Goodness and to be truly Good from within are different things, and virtue is closely connected with the Goodness of the soul.
In response, Socrates led the young man through the streets to the seashore, where they sank into the water. Then he asked the young man, "Now tell me, what do you want?"
"Knowledge, O wise Socrates," replied the young man with a smile.
Socrates put his hands on the young man's shoulders and pushed him into the water. Thirty seconds later the philosopher lifted his disciple out of the water.
"Tell me one more time, what did you say you wanted?" he asked.
"Wisdom, illustrious and wise Socrates," replied the young man with difficulty breathing.
Socrates pushed him again into the water. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five, forty, forty-five.... Eventually, Socrates brought him to the surface. Socrates asked him again, "What do you want, young man?"
He struggled to answer. "Wisdom, a wise and wonderful ..." Socrates immediately threw the young man underwater, this time holding him there for almost a minute. When the young man came to the surface longing for oxygen, Socrates asked him, "What do you want?"
"Air!" the young man shouted. "I need air!"
"When you long for wisdom as you long for air, then you will have it," came the unperturbed answer of the wise Socrates.
The Socratic Method
The Socratic method is described in Plato's "Socratic Dialogues." The Socratic method clarified the concepts of Good and Justice.If you have any problems, break it down into a series of questions and you will find the solution you are looking for in the answers.
This method is designed to help you examine your own beliefs and assess their value.
Wisdom
Socrates believed that wisdom parallels one's ignorance. A person's actions are the result of this level of intelligence and ignorance. He constantly associated "the love of wisdom" with the "art of love."It is debatable whether he believed that humans could become wise, but it is certain that he drew a clear line between wisdom and ignorance.
Virtue
The great philosopher believed that a person should focus more on personal development than on material things. He encouraged people to develop friendship and love between them.People possess certain fundamental philosophical or intellectual virtues, and these virtues are the most valuable possessions in the world.
In his view, to act with Goodness and to be truly Good from within are different things, and virtue is closely connected with the Goodness of the soul.
