Adrian Rufo P.

Naragas September 9, 2016

Ancient Philosophy Rev. Fr. Jenor Luis

Knowledgeable Ignorant

“If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin
with doubts, he shall end in certainties.” –Francis Bacon. Socrates’ method in his search for true
wisdom is somewhat relevant to this quotation. His famous answer (I do not know) and asking
questions to other people to gain wisdom is one of the things that make Socrates remarkable up
into this day.

Socrates’ philosophy is still alive until today. It is because of his unique approach on
philosophy; unique, especially at their era. Most of his philosophy is concerned on ethics.
Socrates’ philosophy was intelligently unique. He asserted that the soul as the center of moral
life. Many of his philosophy admired many people and even applied in into their lives. But
beyond of his philosophy, what I admired most on him was his method in searching for true
wisdom. Socrates uses ignorance as his starting point. He engages people in a conversation by
asking them questions. Also in his philosophy, he endeavored to reach the soul of his disciple by
means of dialogue. That it was common effort of both teachers and disciple to discover truth
through questions and answer.

As I reflect on his philosophy, I discover humility in laying it. Perhaps, Socrates is very
humble enough to assert that he is an ignorant person even if he knew that he is the wisest person
at their time—as said by the oracle. He shows the humility in gaining wisdom out of questioning.
Lastly, he expresses deep conviction that he had that all of his human wisdom is nothing
compared to the divine.

Living here in the seminary makes Socrates’ philosophy significant. To live a life to the

fullest in a moral way and to exercise humility as virtue fits the life what I chose today. I will do

my best to live this kind of life in parallel in my life in the seminary. Someday, I will. And then I

can proudly say to myself that I now, became a knowledgeable ignorant.