During these times after Plato, there was actually two school of skepticism that developed making a rival against academics or knowledge. (Moore, Bruder, 2011) Refutations Being part of the “Academics,” Augustine first battled against skepticism with the principle of noncontradiction. This principle makes it known that in a proposition and its contradiction, one must be correct and neither can be true. (Moore, Bruder, 2011) Moore and Bruder explain that “The stick is straight” and “It is false that the stick is straight” cannot both be true. Augustine also believed that when one believed or used any doubt, then that one is disclosing his/her existences.
It turns out that Aristotle and Kant would give rather different answers to this question. I think that it is because we are unclear about the answer we would give that the conflict is still with us and within each of us. Briefly, Aristotle would say that he is interested in
However, Socrates would not teach daimonia if he did not believe in god. There is an inconsistency in Meletus’ indictment. Socrates points it out. He says, “you say that I do not believe in gods, and again that I believe in gods, since in fact I do believe in daimons” (Ap. 27d).
However, Socrates is unable to find the meaning because the definition of piety changes. Piety is impossible to define for at least three reasons: the definition of piety can have more than one meaning, the structure of the conversation between Euthyphro and Socrates is dynamic, and their knowledge of piety also keeps changing. The definition of the word piety can mean more than one thing. During the conversation, Euthyphro keeps changing the definition of piety. First, he states, “In that case it’s what’s lovable to the gods that’s pious, and what’s not lovable to them that’s impious” (13).
Much of what Socrates uses to defend himself proves otherwise; this is proven in the story of the Oracle from Delphi. What does Socrates think of the gods? Socrates seems to contradict himself on several occasions on this issue. As Socrates defends his charge of atheism proposed by his accusers, he is able to prove to one of his accusers, Meletus, that he believes in the gods. In this essay I will prove that Socrates is in fact not a religious person, but he has had to act religious all his life as so he wouldn’t ever be accused for something such as this and uses this act to completely disprove the accusations made against him.
Compare Socrates with the Sophists. Many Athenians had mistaken Socrates for a Sophist. The fact is that Socrates was one of the Sophists keenest critics. That Socrates should have been identified with them was due to his relentless analysis of any and every subject, a technique also used by the Sophists. But between the Sophists and Socrates there was a fundamental difference.
The Unexamined life is worth living What does it mean to live a good life? Famous Greek philosopher Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living.” (Plato 30). By saying this, Socrates was basically stating that in order to achieve the good life, one must examine life and question the unanswered thoroughly. Some people may agree with this idea while others may strongly disagree. After giving this question much thought, I have come to a conclusion as to what I believe the good life actually is.
This leading into the definitions of piety. The first definition that Euthyphro suggests to Socrates is that piety is persecuting religious offenders. However, Socrates is not satisfied with this response because there are many pious actions that do not involve persecution. (page 5 e) The second definition that Euthyphro suggests is that piety is what is dear to the gods, and that what some gods may agree on, others may not agree on. Thus saying that what is pious may be not pious concluding in a contradiction.
He continued to refute this assertion by making a slightly sarcastic, presumptuous joke at the public’s expense, “Listen then...some of you will think I am jesting, but be sure that all I say is true.” This quote can be perceived as a stab at the ‘inferior argument’ strategy, for which sophists are famous. In Aristophane’s Clouds, Socrates is portrayed as being able to teach such a method, in which the individual that masters it can make even the
6) The subject produces another definition, one that improves on the earlier one. 7) The subject is made to face his own ignorance. This method was used to target fallacies and contradictions within his opponent’s argument and make his opponent aware of the inconsistencies. Socrates’ method was intended to reach a greater understanding of the truth, but not everybody appreciated and shared Socrates’ enthusiasm about his method. Law School is one of the most known platforms for the Socratic method.