Follow Socrates’ Example

Socrates was a Greek philosopher who lived in Athens, Greece from 470 BCE to 399 BCE. Although not the first philosopher, he is credited as being the founder of Western philosophy and the first moral philosopher.

Since he is the ideal of what a philosopher is, I thought it would be interesting if we followed Socrates’ example today. What would happen if we lived like Socrates?

Well, firstly, we would not get a degree in philosophy. Socrates did not go to a University, rather he learned his father’s trade and became a stone worker. He was tutored in reading and writing. He served in the military and served in three campaigns. And after his father passed, he inherited part of his father’s estate.

With the idle time, he started hanging out with some friends and started asking citizens of Athens questions to see if they were wise. He would pop their intellectual ego by showing they were unwise. Eventually, this would contribute to his trial and death sentence.

Socrates was notoriously ugly, so if we follow his example, we should not worry about our looks. He showed indifference to his own appearance and personal hygiene. They say he “bathed rarely, walked barefoot, and owned only one ragged coat.”

Do we really want to follow his example. How many of you honestly think he would be accepted as a philosopher today?

Philosophy used to be a way of life, now it is merely a way of making a living. Philosophy used to be the most important pursuit in a person’s life, now it is regarded as irrelevant, boring, and a complete waste of time.

Philosophy has clearly lost its way.