Question Home

Position:Home>Philosophy> Did Socrates really ask this?


Question: Did Socrates really ask this!?
Is it true that Socrates went around asking people; What is the greatest good!? If so, where can I find the exact quote or account of this!?
Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Socrates asked people if they cared about truth, justice, friendship, courage and other "goods" of their souls, more than money, honour, reputation (read notoriety or "fame")!. If they said YES, that they cared more about the "goods" of their souls, than for money, honour or reputation, then he questioned them, quite mercilessly, to see if what they said was actually true!. Quote:

SOCRATES (according to Plato in The Apology):
" Are you not ashamed that you give your attention to acquiring as much money as possible, and similarly with reputation and honour, and give no attention or thought to truth and understanding and the perfection of your soul!?

"And if any of you disputes this and professes to care about these things, I shall not at once let him go or leave him!. No, I shall question him and examine him and test him; and if it appears that in spite of his profession he has made NO REAL PROGRESS TOWARDS GOODNESS, I shall reprove him for neglecting what is of supreme importance and giving his attention to trivialities!. I shall do this to everyone that I meet, young or old, foreigner or fellow citizen, but especially to you, my fellow citizens, inasmuch as you are closer to me in kinship (ie!. family or "fellow citizens") to me!. This I assure is what 'the god' (Apollo) commands me and it is my belief that NO GREATER GOOD has ever befallen you in this city than my service to the god!. For I spend all my time going about trying to persuade you, young and old, to make your first and chief concern, not for your bodies, nor for your possessions, but for the highest welfare (ie!. good) of your souls, proclaiming as I go, WEALTH does not bring GOODNESS, but GOODNESS brings WEALTH and every other BLESSING (good thing) to both the individual and the state!."

[Plato's Apology: 29e through to 30d; approximately]

One of your other answerers mentioned that, in effect, "nobody knows what Socrates said --- only what Plato wrote that he said!."

But there were 499 other Athenian witnesses to Socrates's trial, other than Plato!. So if Plato misquoted or misrepresented what Socrates said at his trial, there would have been a lot of Athenian protesters or objecters to what Plato wrote about Socrates's trial!. But, historically, there is no evidence from Plato's time that he misquoted or misrepresented Socrates's arguments and statements at his trial!.

So your question should read, more accurately:- Did Socrates go around asking people WHAT ARE THE GREATEST GOODS OF YOUR SOUL, rather than of your body!? He asked those sorts of questions!.

KevinWww@QuestionHome@Com

I'm not sure that any of Plato's dialogues start off with Socrates asking an interloquator to name the greatest good!. However, I do know that Aristotle discusses this notion in some detail in parts of Nichomachean Eithics!. Nonetheless, there is a story about Socrates going to the Oracle of Delphi where he got his notion of "The unexamined life is not worth living", but I can't say if that was a specific answer to the question you pose!. It's possible, in fact, that the particular quote you have in mind is from Aristotle in one of his ethical works!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It is not known that Socrates ever said any of the things that are attributed to him, because Plato is the person that "wrote down" the things we think of as Socratic!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

As already stated, quotes "from" Socrates can be found in Plato's Republic!.Www@QuestionHome@Com