Philosophy
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were many philosophers in ancient Greece. Socrates was one of those
philosophers. Philosophy wasn't a business, it was or is the “love
of wisdom”. Socrates had a great desire for understanding things.
He spent a lot of his time talking and asking people questions. He
was a great teacher, one of the best in the world. One of Socrates
friends once asked the Oracle of Delphi who the ancient Greeks. He
answered Socrates. When he told Socrates, Socrates was puzzled.
He didn't think he was wise. Socrates wanted to find someone wiser
than him so he could tell the oracle here is one wiser. When Socrates
went on his search he could find no one wiser than him. Then he visited
poets and asked them explain passages from their poems. Then he questioned
craft workers who knew a lot about their work. He still could find
no one wiser than him. He still wanted to find out what the oracle
meant. When he came to his conclusion, he found out if you would
be wise, be like Socrates, who knows he knows nothing.
Socrates didn't write about his own teachings. We have learned about them from Plato. Plato was one of Socrates' most famous students. Plato started his own school near Athens after Socrates’ death. It was known as the Academy. Aristotle was one of Plato's students at the Academy. He stayed in Athens until after Plato died. He later returned to his hometown Macedonia. He became Alexander the Great's teacher. He started his teachings in a grove known as Lyceum. He often walked up and down the hill while teaching his lessons. Aristotle told his students “All men by nature desire to know.” Even if it was not true, it was true for Aristotle. He wrote about politics, poetry, and philosophy. Aristotle soon became known as the Philosopher. He was called by many “the master of them that know.” |