1. Socrates 1. Biography a. Born in Athens- 4th BC b. Studied pre-socratics Objections to these: 1. Great ideas but no critical thinking method. How do you know which theory is true? 2. What difference do they make on our lives? None.

2. Key Question 1. How to conduct lives and ourselves. 1. How to conduct lives and ourselves. A. what is good? What is just? What is right? A. what is good? What is just? What is right? Answers to these questions would have a profound effect on us. Answers to these questions would have a profound effect on us.

3. Oracle of Delphi Ultimate center of wisdom in ancient Greece from the 11 th BC. Ultimate center of wisdom in ancient Greece from the 11 th BC. Source of knowledge for nature. Source of knowledge for nature. Key insight : “Know thyself” written on top. Key insight : “Know thyself” written on top. Declared Socrates wisest of men Declared Socrates wisest of men For Socrates a declaration: only he knew that he did not know anything. For Socrates a declaration: only he knew that he did not know anything.

4. How to Question 1. Key concept fundamental to our lives: Friendship, courage, religious piety, Truth, etc… 1. Key concept fundamental to our lives: Friendship, courage, religious piety, Truth, etc… 2. Always ask a follow up question on its opposite or converse idea. 2. Always ask a follow up question on its opposite or converse idea. 3. Always follow on a question from another vantage point/perspective. 3. Always follow on a question from another vantage point/perspective. 4. Reach what it is not to know what it is. 4. Reach what it is not to know what it is. 5. This can tell you if a person knows or does not know. 5. This can tell you if a person knows or does not know.

5. Writings From Plato: Phaedo: Immortality of the soul, Creto: What is right?, Meno: what is virtue, Apology: Plato’s trial and defense (apology) From Plato: Phaedo: Immortality of the soul, Creto: What is right?, Meno: what is virtue, Apology: Plato’s trial and defense (apology) 1. Detail Socrates death 2. Portrait of Socrates Euthyphro: What is Piety? (Early dialogue of Plato 3. Some Definitions: Necessary Condition: the condition in the absence of which a specific thing cannot exist (for instance, one needs to be unmarried in order to be a bachelor, but this requirement is not sufficient because there are children and unmarried female persons who meet the same condition). Sufficient Condition: the condition in the presence of which a thing exists (for instance, if one is both unmarried and adult male the sufficient condition is met to call that person a bachelor). Irony (from the Greek eironeia): a way of speech by means of which we say something by saying something else. It presupposes two audiences: one which receives only the literal meaning of the phrase and the other one which captures the intended (usually negative) meaning as well. Dialectic (from the Greek dialektike techne = art of dispute): originally, any conversation, but in Plato it acquires a more technical meaning of methodical discussion by means of questions and answers which reveal more complex (often opposite) aspects of the thing under scrutiny. Necessary Condition: the condition in the absence of which a specific thing cannot exist (for instance, one needs to be unmarried in order to be a bachelor, but this requirement is not sufficient because there are children and unmarried female persons who meet the same condition). Sufficient Condition: the condition in the presence of which a thing exists (for instance, if one is both unmarried and adult male the sufficient condition is met to call that person a bachelor). Irony (from the Greek eironeia): a way of speech by means of which we say something by saying something else. It presupposes two audiences: one which receives only the literal meaning of the phrase and the other one which captures the intended (usually negative) meaning as well. Dialectic (from the Greek dialektike techne = art of dispute): originally, any conversation, but in Plato it acquires a more technical meaning of methodical discussion by means of questions and answers which reveal more complex (often opposite) aspects of the thing under scrutiny. Elenchus (from the Greek elenchos = proof, refutation): a prolonged argument used by Socrates to refute the opponent by eliciting self-contradictions in his position. Elenchus (from the Greek elenchos = proof, refutation): a prolonged argument used by Socrates to refute the opponent by eliciting self-contradictions in his position.

6. Questions for Discussion Socratic Café meets 1. What is Friendship? 1. What is Friendship? 2. What is the immortality of the Soul? 2. What is the immortality of the Soul? 3. What is Truth? 3. What is Truth? 4. What is Virtue? (Good) 4. What is Virtue? (Good) 5. What is right action? 5. What is right action? 6. What is Justice? 6. What is Justice? Necessary Condition Necessary Condition Sufficient Cause Sufficient Cause Consider the opposite view Consider the opposite view Consider alternatives Consider alternatives