Is Socrates to blame for the spiritual emptiness of modern society?

Question: Is Socrates to blame for the spiritual emptiness of modern society!?

As Nietzsche accuses him of in "The Birth of Tragedy"!?

After all, he is the father of reason in Western thought, and the first proponent of it as the fundamental guiding force of our entire lives!.

So to put it another way, is widespread ennui an unavoidable consequence of a rational society, or are we failing to live up to the potential of our circumstances!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I think arrogance and an over confidence in empiricism and science is to blame!.

Being a thinker and a scientist is one thing!.!.!. I dont reject science; I'd be stupid if I did!. But for atheists to convince themselves that science conclusively refutes theology and spirituality, without the need for proof, is both arrogant, ignorant, and self-righteous!. The modern philosophy on "everything is subjective" "no one is to blame" attitude!. Close minded bigotry favoring ones own agenda!.!.!. to serve themselves!.!.!. necessitates the removal of moral and spiritual objectivity!.

If we are truly to be objective, intelligent, and pursue truth!.!.!. we would not arbitrarily deny theistic possibility!. How is that rational!? It certainly isnt scientific to do such a thing!. Theology is a perfectly legitimate theory that has yet to be disproven!. And its the only theory that atheists reject for no reason whatsoever other than "religion is distasteful"!. If only all science could be arrived at so irrationally!.

And I think my down thumbs for this answer only proves peoples bigotries against religion!. I know, its a crappy situation!.!.!. either agree with me or prove me right!.

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wow!.!.!. three separate people praising my answer by name!. Thats never happened before!. Thanks guys!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Socrates did his best to describe what he saw at the time regarding the social mileu!.!.!.!.!.how much we buy into his ideas are personal options

Confucious played a dramatic role in delveloping the present day mentality of Chinese society!.!.!.!.!.where everyone is 'equal' and the thing that sets people apart is their behavior and their education!.!.!.!.therefore, in China, we find many arrogant, pitiless men who have been directed toward some educational skill that they master!.!.!.!.!.but have no broad perception of social needs!.!.!.!.only their own

!.!.!.!.!.so, in USA, we have options, and in college we have 'humanities' that broaden our perceptions!.!.!.but as a rule Socrates had little effect on Eastern philosophy, only Western philosophy!.!.!.!.and even there, competeing principles and evolving perceptions are blended, without mercy, to the point of idiotic mental chaos!.!.!.!.!. so in a word, 'no', he is not what is to 'blame' for anyone's 'spiritual emptiness'!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Spiritual emptiness of modern society!?

I don't think it's spiritually empty at all!. Beliefs have had to become more subtle, no longer being able to be supported by simple suppositions!. But reason does not conclusively refute theology and spirituality, it's made them more colourful and complex!.

Reason, and science, does not deal in the unknown!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Socrates is hardly to blame for our society's problems, no more than Christ is responsible for all the crimes committed in his name!.

Socrates was simply looking for the truth!. How many people can say the same!?

Society can't be 'spiritual' Spirituality is an individual occupation!. If spirituality infects and controls the masses it is a kind of insanity or fanaticism and always spills over into politics!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, I'm in no position to speculate on the effect Socrates had on spiritual emptiness, but there's no doubt he's solely to blame for America's rising rates of hemlock-induced death!.

The man was clearly a menace, whose togas and endless streams of rhetorical questions had to be stopped!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes!. Socrates put a gun to our heads and told us what to think!. He never, never, never, never encouraged anyone to look inside to explore self-knowledge!. He never wanted anyone to question received wisdom!.

Is the opposite of intellectual ennui blissful ignorance!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Cogito got it right!.

But I disagree with your question!. Society isn't spiritually empty, although it is so full of other mind-numbing, virtually useless distractions that it appears to lack spirituality!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

no!.!.!.most people in modern society don't even know who Socrates isWww@QuestionHome@Com

Cogito got it right!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I take my hat off to CogitoErgo!.!.!.
The world needs people like you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Ask a loaded Q!? You are lucky to get the good answers you got!. Maybe it would be best if you actually studied Plato/Socrates and Neitzsche or for that matter learn to do philosophy!.
Neitzsche detested ignorance and stupidity as much as Socrates did!

nitpicky aren't you!? Nobody said they were same except in the way mentioned!. also the Q you formulated seems framed seeking self confirmation rather than real contributions in thought!. I'll be watching your BA pick unless of course, you leave it to the voters!

BTW look up and explore Promethianism which tells you Nietzsche was critical of reason as a source of creativity!. That did not mean he devalued reason but put it into a bigger picture where emotions were as important!Www@QuestionHome@Com