TASK 1: READING IS GAINING There is a difference between asking questions with the intention of

making the other person look stupid or ignorant, and asking questions with the
Socrates (c. 470-399 B.C.) of Athens, Greece, is known through the
genuine desire to know. The latter is one of the characteristics of a true
writings of his student, Plato (c. 427-348 B.C.) In one of Plato’s writings (Apology),
philosopher. Socrates wanted to know the truth behind the message of the
a friend of Socrates went to a priestess (an oracle) to ask who was the wisest
priestess that is why he went to those who claimed that they were wise. When he
man. The priestess answered that “there is no man wiser than Socrates.” When
asked questions about their expertise, it was out of a humble admission that he
Socrates heard this, he did not believe it. He was certain that he did not know
did not know what they knew, and thus he wanted to learn from them. It turned
anything.
out, however, that those self-proclaimed wise men of Athens did not really know
For I Knew I had no wisdom. After thinking it over for a long time, I what they professed to know.
decided that I had to find a man wiser than myself so I could go back to the god’s
Socrates understood the message delivered from the gods, “no one is
oracle with this evidence. So I went to see a politician who was famous for his
wiser than Socrates.” He, like all the men and women of Athens, were ignorant.
wisdom. But when I questioned him, I realized he really was not wise, although
But what made him a notch wiser than they who thought of themselves as wise,
many people- he especially-thought he was. So I tried to explain to him that
was that he knew of his own ignorance. He knew that he did not know anything,
although he thought himself wise, he really was not. But all that happened was
whereas other men and women go about living in the world pretending or
that he came to hate me. And so did many of his supporters who overheard us. So
deluding themselves with the thought that they knew everything. A genuine
I left him, thinking to myself as I left that although neither of us really knew
desire to know begins with this humble admission of one’s own ignorance. In the
anything about what is noble and good, still I was better off. For he knows
end, Socrates was then sentenced to death for the charges of disrespecting the
nothing, and thinks that he knows, while I neither know nor think that I know. And
gods and for corrupting the minds of the youth. He was killed by being forced to
in this I think I have a slight advantage.
drink the poison hemlock.
Then I went to another person who had even greater pretensions to
wisdom. The result was exactly the same. I made another enemy. In this way I
went to one man after another and made more and more enemies. I felt bad Guide Questions:
about this and it frightened me. But I was compelled to do it because I felt that
1. What is the true meaning of the message of the god’s “there is no man
investigating god’s oracle came first. I said to myself, I must go to everyone who
wiser than Socrates?”
seems to be wise so I can find out what the oracle means. (Plato, 2008).
2. Why does Socrates did not believe that he is the wisest man?
Socrates’ reputation during his time was that of an annoying philosopher 3. What does it mean to be a philosopher?
who would embarrass others in the process of asking them questions about what
they professed as their expertise. Because of this humiliation he caused, he
created a number of enemies. His enemies found a way to place charges against TASK 2: QUOTATIONS
him and put him in trial. Reading Socrates’ defense above, we can see clearly that
his intention was not to humiliate and create enemies. He genuinely wanted to 1. “Science is what you know. Philosophy is what you don’t know.”
know what the priestess meant when she said that “no one is wiser than Bertrand Russell
Socrates.” 2. “This is patently absurd; but whoever wishes to become a philosopher
must learn not to be frightened by absurdities” – Bertrand Russell
What do these quotes tell you about the nature of philosophy and the
philosopher’s way of thinking?