The Contributions Of Plato s The Apology - 1676 Words

Although I have always been aware of the contributions that Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and others have made to the advancement of philosophy, I was never quite aware of how profound their teachings impacted their fellow citizens as well as modern day society. In seems as though their teachings can be, and have been, applied to every facet of life. For myself, I feel that virtue is something that can be taught and learned from sources such as parents, friends, and the environment. Before attending Introduction to Ethics I thought I had a good grasp on the definition of the word virtue. I knew that it meant doing what was morally right, but what was sometimes missing from my definition and my practice of virtue was the sincerity behind my actions. After reading the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, and Epictetus I have learned that more often than not I teeter towards the â€Å"seeming good† aspect of virtue rather than genuinely practicing a virtue for the sake of my soul and my happiness. In Plato’s The Apology, Socrates states that â€Å"virtue is the utmost importance and should come first to wealth. Being rich and having a position means nothing if you don’t genuinely care for others.† All three philosophers believe that virtue, whether it be in the form of wisdom, truth, courage, or munificence, is good for the soul and can be a link to finding true happiness; I wholeheartedly agree with that theory. For example, when I conce ntrated on â€Å"seeming good† in order to keep upShow MoreRelatedSocrates : The Suicide Of Socrates1405 Words   |  6 PagesThe creation and practice of this method is one of Socrates most enduring contribution to philosophy. It is also a key factor in him earning his mantle as the father of political philosophy, ethics or moral philosophy, and as a figurehead of all the central themes in Western philosophy. Socrates is widely considered the father of western philosophy (Socrates 2009). People have said that Socrates greatest contribution to philosophy was to move intellectual pursuits away from the focus on `physicalRead MorePlato And Aristotle s Views On The Greek Philosophy1128 Words   |  5 Pages9/28/2015 Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the three original thinkers and intelligent teachers of ancient Greece, together made the Greek philosophy reach its highest state and also opened up a new world of western philosophy and culture. Among three of them, Socrates was the very first one who appeared in history, and was the very first teacher and spreader of ancient Greek philosophy. His entire life was a legend that he had numbers of followers and students. However, unlike Plato and Aristotle, thisRead MoreStudent Teacher1669 Words   |  7 Pagesrelationships such as Socrates-Plato, Plato-Aristotle etc. It is beyond the scope of dubiety that teachers, since ages, have played a major role in the life of an individual and his/her overall upbringing. Teachers are the beacons of light that lead people to success and glory. They are the ones who recognize the talents of their students and encourage them to move further and assist them in reaching the zenith of their potential. Let us dedicate this Teacher s day to all those teachers who,Read MorePlato And Aristotle On Justice And Law1565 Words   |  7 Pages Plato and Aristotle lived in a time where rule of man was the common practice in government. Under the system of the rule of man, citizens are governed by an individual or small group of rulers. On the other hand, the idea of the rule of law is one that proposes that laws should be supreme over each citizen including the ruler(s). In their writings, Plato and Aristotle focused on justice and law, and the reasons they are important in society. Throughout history, many leaders have l ooked to theseRead MoreSocrates And Not Antigone : An Effective Policy For Improving The Health Of Their City1825 Words   |  8 Pagesdisingenuous did not have a well put together policy that would have improved the health of their city. Accordingly, political actors began to wonder what exactly is the most efficient policy that one should establish that would have a greater contribution to the health of a city? Consequently, I argue that Socrates and not Antigone had a superior policy for improving the health of their respective cities since Socrates’s policy involved a strategic approach to accomplishing his aim of educatingRead MoreSocrates : The Soul Man2954 Words   |  12 Pagesfelt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that their persuasive words almost made me forget who I was - such was the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth.† - Apology, 17A So, as told by Plato, Socrates began his defence before an Athenian jury on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth of the city. However, the real aim of these accusations seems to have been to challenge the way in which Socrates had conducted hisRead MoreA Critical Note on New Historicism Essay2751 Words   |  12 Pagesaptly and effectively. Ancient Classical Criticism: The earliest proofs of criticism are found in Greek literature. In the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., Athens was the lap of literary enterprises. So the critical activity was first undertaken by Plato and his eternal disciple Aristotle. This preliminary era of criticism is termed as Hellenic, means Greek, period of criticism. Plato’s Republic is looked upon as the first critical book in which he expresses the ideas regarding the literary and poeticRead MoreSidney Defends The Worth Of Poetry2624 Words   |  11 PagesThis is a powerful claim, but one that matched with the fact that he has listed many ancient writers, some of the earliest known to man, and they are all poets, begins to have grounds. Sidney then says that philosophers use poetry, he begins with Plato, saying â€Å"whosoever well considereth shall find that in the body of his work, though the inside and strength were philosophy, the skin, as it were, and beauty depended most on poe try (102-105). Sidney also writes the connection between historians andRead MorePhilosophy of Man8521 Words   |  35 Pagesof the founders of Western philosophy, the central theme of philosophy was not the world, but man. Socrates’ deep concern for the well-being of man makes him look like a prophet moving amongst the Greeks. In the celebrated Platonic Dialogue; the Apology, Socrates is reported to have gone to God, only to be graced with a special message for his fellow men. This Divine message exhorted the Athenians to â€Å" take the greatest possible care of their souls and not to ruin their lives by letting the careRead MoreCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 Pagesfail to fulfil the — justifiable — demand for a completely systematic theory, without offering any compensation in the way of popularity. I am only too aware of this failing. This account of the genesis and aim of these essays is offered less as an apol ogy than as a stimulus — and this is the true aim of this work — to make the problem of dialectical method the focus of discussion as an urgent living problem. If these essays provide the beginning or even just the occasion for a genuinely profitable