The concept of wisdom is one of the most discussed issues in philosophy. Philosophers from different periods and schools of thought are yet to agree on the real definition of wisdom. Socrates was also interested in the subject of wisdom; his perspective on wisdom is seen in Plato’s Apology. Socrates had a unique view of wisdom, despite being viewed as the wisest person in Greece during his time. Socrates was puzzled by the opinion that he was wise because he claimed to lack extensive knowledge and wisdom. Socrates embarked on a mission to question knowledgeable politicians, craftsmen, and poets in the Greek society regarding wisdom, only to realize that they could not define wisdom and other philosophical concepts beyond their limited knowledge. Socratic view of wisdom is simple; wisdom is knowledge of self and the ability to desist from claiming to be knowledgeable about things that are beyond the scope of one’s expertise.
Socratic view of wisdom is often cited by many philosophers when analyzing the concept of wisdom. Socratic view of wisdom, also known as epistemic humility, is unique. Socrates was against philosophers, politicians, and teachers who imposed their personal opinions and worldviews on others by talking about them as if they were the truth. Socratic view of wisdom or rather the concept of wisdom, in general, is related to philosophy. Wisdom refers to the ability to act appropriately using knowledge and experience. Individuals with wisdom are knowledgeable, and they possess both factual and theoretical knowledge. Wisdom is related to philosophy as it guides philosophers in their analysis of fundamental philosophical problems. Philosophy as a discipline is often described as a body of knowledge covering various disciplines and societal issues; hence wisdom makes up philosophy. Without wisdom, philosophers will commit the same mistake that Socrates warned politicians, teachers, and craftsmen in the Greek society about (Benson, 2000).
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Though Socrates claimed that “he knew nothing,” he encouraged the pursuit of wisdom. Socrates argued that a man’s purpose in life was to seek wisdom. Socrates was conscious about his knowledge and desisted from claiming to be knowledgeable about issues that were outside his scope of expertise. Instead, Socrates encouraged individuals to question opinions and the views of individuals who claim to be wise. In the Apology, Socrates demonstrated his skepticism towards the knowledge of highly esteemed Athenian men. For instance, the oracle of Apollo of Delphi was respected as one of the most knowledgeable individuals, and yet he was incapable of answering Socrates’ question. Socrates warned highly esteemed individuals against using their expert knowledge to speak authoritatively about other issues. Socrates also concluded that he was wiser than most men in Greece because he acknowledged that he was not wise. Socrates also believed that wisdom is eternal and it is inscribed in one’s soul (Vernezze, 2015).
Socrates’ biggest contribution to philosophy is the development of the Socratic Method. Socratic Method is a system of inquiry, often used to examine moral concepts by asking a series of questions to explore the underlying beliefs. Socratic Method is a process of elimination whereby different hypotheses are analyzed and discarded. The Socratic Method is a tedious process as seen in Socrates dialogues. The people who were engaged in the dialogue with Socrates were tired of the endless questions, yet Socrates still engaged in the inquiry because he was interested in finding out whether those people were wise.
Socrates’ view of wisdom is appropriate, unlike other philosophers, Socrates did not claim to be wise and knowledgeable. Socrates questioned his thinking and asked his listeners to questions beliefs and teachings of the people in authority rather than just believing whatever they say. Socrates engaged in regular philosophical inquiry in an attempt to show his listeners how they should search for wisdom. Socrates believed that a meaningful life is an examined life; he argued that it is not enough for a man to examine the universe but a man should also examine his soul. Socrates believed that human beings should not be content with the way things are, and they should question their assumptions and beliefs.
In conclusion, Socrates is an esteemed philosopher because of his perspective on wisdom and philosophy in general. Despite being viewed as the wisest person, Socrates believed that he was not wise. Socrates engaged in a constant search for wisdom through dialogues. Socrates constantly examined his life and examined the teachings of the people in authority to show that real wisdom is hard to attain. Socrates urged others to engage in the search for wisdom to discover what is good and evil and make well-informed decisions. Without wisdom, human beings will lead an ignorant life without self-control and become a victim of poor decisions. Lastly, engaging in the search for wisdom is a life of action as one becomes aware of self and the surrounding environment.
References
Benson, H. H. (2000). Socratic Wisdom: the model of knowledge in Plato's early dialogues . Oxford University Press on Demand.
Vernezze, P. (2015). The Stoic Sage: The Early Stoics on Wisdom, Sagehood and Socrates. Ancient Philosophy , 35 (2), 477-479.
