Socrates: a Philosophical Genius

Socrates is considered the 'father of western philosophy.' He was an Athenian who lived in the fifth century before Christ. There is no evidence that he ever wrote his own thoughts down; what we know about him is from Plato's and Xenophon's writings, and the plays of Aristophanes. He is portrayed as a poor man who listened to a divine voice in his head, and who was pious. He placed great value on good, justice, beauty, and virtue. He accepted his execution, apparently with options, as a matter of principles.

He lived during a time when the general philosophy of 'right and wrong' was determined by who could win a battle. He is described as a 'gadfly' who would undermine the establishment's philosophy of 'might is right' with the Athenian people, to one of consideration for justice and good. He became such a pain in the butt that he was eventually executed for corrupting youth - this in a society where men having sex with boys was accepted! (Forget about that; his life has an e=mc² factor that is long ago and far away.)

One of his philosophies, perhaps his most important one, is known as 'the Socratic method.' Through the method, a problem is solved by asking a question and finding an hypothesis (answer) that doesn't have conflict. It is the basis of 'the scientific method' used still today. He believed that the 'best results' (note: not 'correct' result) were derived from 'searching one's soul' (paraphrased) and asking others for input.

Other thoughts attributed to Socrates, by the sources we have, include:

* People spend too much time worrying about family and careers, and too little time worrying about the 'welfare of their souls.'
* Moral excellence is the result of one accepting divine inspiration than parental nurturing.
* His wisdom was not pretending to know that which he didn't.
* People should be more dedicated to self-development than gathering wealth.
* The job of a philosopher is to show others how little we know.
* People should be governed by philosophers, and not by democratic popularity.
* We live because of a life force that departs the body upon death.
* A true philosopher cannot fear death.
* One should honor his contracts regardless of the consequences.

Many people in Athens loved Socrates and thought him to be the wisest man in Athens. We can't know for certain that he was the wisest in the land, but he was, at least, regarded by some to be. Despite offers to help him escape, including the bribing of the guards, he accepted the court's decision, and considered his execution 'his answer to dying of old age.'

Question: Was Socrates a genius?

Applying Kant's definition: Socrates appears to be a man who knew what others would have to be taught, and was able to create methods for moral and ethical self-evaluation.

Applying Schopenhauer's addition to Kant's definition: Socrates appears to be a man who placed intellect predominate to will.

Applying my standards:

1. Socrates was a conceptual thinker.
2. The Socratic method is a demonstration of his understanding of using math uncommonly.
3. His relief over not having to die naturally and painfully demonstrates an understanding about how time works.
4. He used creativity and analysis to arrive at his conclusions.
5. His theories have added to the knowledge base for future geniuses.
6. He believed in a 'physical soul' and reincarnation that lived on after physical death. This doesn't demonstrate fully the envisionment of infinity, but it does show that he understood continuum.
7. His observation about 'genetic myths' of the day demonstrates an understanding of bodily physical laws and human dynamics.
8. He suffered execution over his principles.
9. He was incapable of accepting the norm claiming that he could become rich if he were to use his knowledge for pandering. He had no blind faith.

Socrates was a genius by all three standards.

So, if you're wondering why I'm going through this exercise to arrive at the conclusion that Socrates was a genius, the continuing story of Socrates and his 'posthumous recognition' as a genius led to him becoming prophetic. We'll skip Plato. He was a genius also. However, you should not just accept my word for that!

We need to go one more generation. Plato has already set up his school, and is teaching Socratic philosophy to students. Then one day, he died, and Aristotle became Plato's 'self-professed desciple.