Socrates

Socrates is one of the 16 books that is part of the SSRC Philosophers Series called “Free Thinkers.” The series is an attempt to present the teachings of many of the great philosophers throughout history in a way that average readers without academic backgrounds can easily understand. Socrates (469-399 BCE) is often considered the “father of Western philosophy,” since he set the direction for all the Western philosophers who followed him. Socrates “embraced the ancient call of ‘Know thyself,’ and made it the guiding principle of his life. According to him, each person could improve both their understanding and behaviour if they were willing to set aside limiting preconceptions and humbly acknowledge their ignorance.” His lasting impact on philosophy was “primarily due to his martyrdom in 399 BCE – the death he faced calmly and joyfully while discussing the immortality of the soul with his disciples.” Socrates’ primary concern is “care of the soul.” For him this means a complete shift in priorities and goals, from an obsession with material things to a focus on creating the best conditions for the soul’s well-being and goodness. Care of the soul focuses on self-knowledge and on activating the heart. He sought truth through dialogues exploring opposing viewpoints using the principles of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, seeking to overcome falsehoods and misconceptions however deeply held.