Greek Philosophy

What is a philosopher? Work with a partner to write your own definitions

below.
Philosophy is
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Remember!: What is one

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example of a philosophy or

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philosopher from another

A philosopher is

ancient civilization?

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One of the most famous of all Greek philosophers was Socrates. We know
much of what we know about Socrates from the writings of one of his
students, the philosopher Plato. One famous work by Plato is the Apology,
which describes the defense Socrates gave of his actions when he was
charged with corrupting the young and not believing in the gods. The
excerpt below is of Socrates explaining what he did when he was told by
the Oracle at Delphi (an oracle was a priest or priestess who was believed
to know the wisdom of the gods) that there was no man wiser than him.
Stop and React: What would you think if an oracle told you that there was
no one smarter than you? Write 2-3 sentences explaining how that would
make you feel and how you might act afterwards.
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Directions: Read and annotate the following passage, answering the

questions as you go. Respond to the questions that follow in complete
sentences using evidence from the passage.
An Excerpt From The Apology
Written by Plato
Translated by Benjamin Jowett (Abridged by Mr. Robinson)
Why do I mention this? Because I am going to explain to you why I have
such an evil name. When I heard the answer, I said to myself, What can
the god mean, and what is the interpretation of this riddle? I know that I
have no wisdom, small or great. What can he mean when he says that I am
the wisest of men? And yet he is a god and cannot lie; that would be
against his nature.
Stop and Think: Why can the oracle not be wrong about what it has said?
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After a long consideration, I at last thought of a method of trying the

question. I reflected that if I could only find a man wiser than myself, then I
might go to the god with a refutation in my

refutation= an argument

hand. I should say to him, "Here is a man who

that refutes, or proves

is wiser than I am; but you said that I was the

something wrong

wisest." Accordingly I went to one who had

the reputation of wisdom. When I began to talk with him, I could not help
thinking that he was not really wise, although he was thought wise by
many and wiser still by himself. I went and tried to explain to him that he
thought himself wise, but was not really wise; and the consequence was

that he hated me, and his enmity was shared by several

enmity= hatred

who were present and heard me.

Stop and Think: Why did Socrates go to see another wise man? What was
the result of him speaking to this man?
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So I left him, saying to myself as I went away, Well, although I do not

suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am
better off than he is - for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows. I
neither know nor think that I know. In this in particular, then, I seem to
have slightly the advantage over him. Then I went to another, who had
still higher philosophical pretensions, and my conclusion was exactly the
same. I made another enemy of him, and of many others besides him.

The Death of Socrates, painted by Jacques Louis-David

1. Why do you think Socrates had so many enemies? Could this have
led to him being put on trial?
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2. Go back to the text. Find and circle atleast 4 conjunctions.
3. What did Socrates mean when he said he was better off than the
man he spoke to?
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4. Socrates says, I neither know nor think that I know. Rewrite this
expression in your own words, then explain what you think Socrates
means when he says this.
The expression in your own words:
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Your Explanation:
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