- Socrates (c. 470-399 B.C.), was one of the first of three philosophers of Ancient Greece who are most responsible for the powerful, cognitive foundation of the Western Civilization.
- Although Socrates was closely associated with the leading ruling and political citizens of Athens, Greece, he took little part in politics. He said that he sought no public office because he did not want to compromise his philosophical principles. Instead, he felt that it was his mission to help people tend to their souls; in other words, he dedicated his life to helping people tend to their souls; in other words, he dedicated his life to helping people to think more accurately and to find that special knowledge of what is good for their soul.
- Whereas philosophers before him focused on natural sciences, Socrates emphasized the personal, ethical, and social aspects of life, thus bringing out the insights, values, and methodology needed in any attempt to attain a happy life.
- Socrates believed that no one does evil of his or her own free will; and, he strongly believed that if one knew the good, he or she would not hesitate to do it. In other words, Socrates believed that the soul (meaning the mind) of a human being is basically good and that one commits evil only from ignorance of what the good truly is.
- This belief in the basic goodness of all human beings coupled with a belief that it is ignorance that causes people to do evil things, Socrates went about Athens trying to get people to think more accurately and thus become more humane.
- Whether you agree or disagree with Socrates' belief in the basic goodness of humanity, experience shows that people tend to behave better as they learn. The reason, however, may simply be that the morally educated person realizes that although selfish, bad behavior might make him or her happy in the short term, the long-term consequences and/or end result is unhappiness. Also, good thoughts tend to produce good actions that cause good consequences or good results.
- If "knowledge is power," as famously stated by Sir Francis Bacon, then Socrates may have been most responsible for the dominance of Western Civilization as well as the superior technology that the West has enjoyed for centuries.
- Not only do we have free libraries and free public education, but education is also mandatory for children in the United States of America. The importance of education to the society as a whole may arguably be attributed to an idea learned from Socrates--that is, if you teach people better ways to think and tell them why it's better, then they will most likely behave better, which would not only be best for the individual learner but also best for the community and humanity as well.
