Essay about Socrates Views on Virtue and Happiness

There are certain truths of the world that cannot be ignored or overlooked. Many philosophers have spent countless years discussing, debating and evaluating such truths. One such influential philosopher is Socrates. Born in Athens in 469 B.C.E, he spent most of his time at the marketplace and other public places engaging in dialogues about truths of life. Among many other things, he discussed virtue and happiness and how closely they are related. According to Socrates, virtue is absolutely necessary for perfect happiness because virtue brings a type of happiness that other things could never bring. In this paper, I will explain the aforementioned idea of Socrates on virtue and happiness and through evidence from Platos Apology which is†¦show more content†¦This idea of goodness and virtue goes anything beyond worldly values and ideals. A good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death(41d), says Socrates further explaining that no matter what, a better man [cannot] be h armed by a worse(30d). Having virtue gives you a certain happiness that is well beyond life or death or worldly values and goods. So, how exactly does a person become virtuous? Socrates offers suggestions and explanation for this question as well. Socrates claims that one cannot be virtuous accidentally. Just because you commit a virtuous act does not make you virtuous. An understanding of the concept of virtue is equally important as the virtuous act itself. One needs to understand the nature of virtue which requires reflection of virtue and this reflection is only possible once you grasp your own ignorance about the nature of virtue. This understanding of ones own ignorance is human wisdom. So, since being perfectly happy requires being virtuous and being virtuous requires human wisdom, human wisdom is necessary for perfect happiness. So as a person begins to acquire human wisdom which is merely an understanding and acknowledgment of ones own ignorance, they are on their road to acquiring perfect happiness. So what happens to people who cannot acquire human wisdom and in turn cannot be virtuous? Are they denied happinessShow MoreRelatedSocrates, Plato, and Aristotels View on Happiness1529 Words   |  7 PagesWhat Is Happiness What is happiness, and how can one achieve true happiness? This is the ultimate question of life and what every person is seeking an answer to. Many feel that they have found their answer in belonging to the faith of their choice, but what is it that their faith teaches them that brings them happiness? The Philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle all have a similar view on what happiness is and how to achieve it. Aristotles view is based on Platos and Platos is based on SocratesRead MoreEssay On Socrates On Happiness1594 Words   |  7 Pagespursuit of happiness is a timeless and ageless endeavor. Since the beginning of time people have searched far and wide for the source of happiness. Even the greatest minds attempt to discover the basis of all human contentment. The father of philosophy, Socrates, was one of those few that might have unearthed the key to human happiness. His understanding shaped the way that the western world sees pleasure, joy, and happiness. His views on how to obtain them are still alive today. Socrates lived inRead MoreThe Role Of Happiness . â€Å"Happiness Is The Meaning And The1326 Words   |  6 PagesThe Role of Happiness â€Å"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence† (Aristotle). In ethics, we study the place of morality in a social construct, where happiness is the core of ethical concern. Happiness for the individual, happiness for the majority, happiness for nature. What is the key to a happy life? Aristotle believes the key is eudaimonia, or a state of having a good soul or being in a contented state of being healthy, happy, and prosperousRead MorePlato s View On Justice1261 Words   |  6 Pagessignificance to the state and its individuals. In Book I, Thrasymachus and Socrates both provide their views on the definition of justice. The discussion takes place in Cephalus’s residence with his son Polymarchus. Through Plato’s dialogue, the definitions on justice by both Thrasymachus and Socrates will be discussed in this paper. Thrasymachus, a sophist, teaches the art of persuasion. He is unpleased with Socrates remarks on justice and accuses him of never clearly responding to questionsRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of Socrates1663 Words   |  7 Pages Socrates is known in today’s world as one of the greatest philosophers in history. Born in 469 BC just outside of Athens, Socrates was properly brought up and thoroughly educated, he developed both physical and mental strengths. Socrates spent time with the philosopher Archelaus, where he studied astronomy, mathematics, and was introduced to philosophy. Archelaus taught with a scientific approach. Socrates turned from this approach and created his own. He decided instead of trying to understandRead MoreWhat Is Philosophy According to Socrates Essay970 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is philosophy according to Socrates? Philosophy is an academic subject that exercises reason and logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer fundamental questions about knowledge, life, morality, virtue, and human nature. The original word for philosophy comes from the ancient Greek word philosopha, which means love of wisdom. Although Socrates himself never claimed to have any answers to the questions he raised, his views and methods of philosophy became the foundations of whatRead MorePlatos Symposium : The Nature Of Love1592 Words   |  7 Pageswithin that nature. The underlying goal of this force of love is immortality, though he does not directly articulate it in his speech. It is with the emergence of Socrates’ ideas that we are equipped with sufficient evidence reinforcing Aristophanes’ story to be one in which immortality is the end goal, and that we are made to realize Socrates’ speech is really a further elaboration on what Aristophanes put forward, providing the tools to trul y comprehend his true point. Aristophanes describes theRead MoreKant And Kant s Philosophy On Ethics970 Words   |  4 Pagesbehavior. Is there a universal ethical behavior ? Are all countries ethical ? Theses very same questions many philosophers have tried to figure through time from Socrates to Immanuel kant (and to this very day for the matter!). While comparing two great eathist Plato and Immanuel Kant I, the writer argue that Kant s ideological views on ethics were far superior to Plato’s due to several factors. For one Kant was born in a more recent time and is a for lack of a better term a â€Å"modern westerner†Read MoreSocrates s Virtue Of Thinking And The State1564 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates uses the expression of gadfly to refer to himself. Here, the gadfly stings and makes one irritated but at the same time steering, you forward. â€Å"I am that Gadfly, given by God†¦to Athens,† Socrates submits (Plato, 2015). He believes that his actions, though times irritating t o the state, were useful for ensuring forward movement in the society. Therefore, Socrates demonstrates his role is that of maintain regard of morals and keeping track the state. By looking at his later submission, â€Å"unexaminedRead MoreSocrates Life Of The Soul, And Critical Thinking1721 Words   |  7 Pagesdemands a full cycle of work and consumption. Socrates believed that a person’s job in life is to grow both personally and spiritually. Without growth of the human soul, a person is not able to reach the pure serenity of the examined life. Socrates understood wisdom to be one of the most important virtues a person could possess. Seeking true wisdom entails questioning with logical argument, not just accepting things for what they are worth. Contrary to Socrates, Ivan Ilyich lived a life full of social