1. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” -Socrates
Philosophy
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
-Socrates

2. Definition of Philosophy
Philosophy can be defined as the rational investigation of the truths and principles of
Being (who we are)
Knowledge (what we know)
Conduct (how we act)

3. Categories
Philosophy typically falls within the following three categories:
Ethics- What is right? What is wrong?
Fate- Do you choose your own destiny/future, or is it already decided for you?
Natural World- How was the world created? Is there a pattern to things or is everything random?

4. Socrates

5. Socrates Born in Athens in 469 BC Not from a rich family
Began thinking about and questioning the world around him in his forties
Wanted to discuss issues with other people- began walking around the streets questioning/teaching people

6. Socrates
A group of young men began to gather to listen to his teachings, Plato was one of them
Athenians were annoyed with him and charged him with impiety and corrupting youth
Sentenced to death and forced to drink poisonous hemlock
Never wrote down his ideas/teachings, but famous student Plato did

7. Plato

8. Plato One of the greatest philosophers of all time
Born in 429 BC, died in 347 BC
Born in Athens to wealthy family
After Socrates died, Plato wrote down everything Socrates had taught him (“The Dialogues”)
Also wrote “The Republic” which was about Athen’s government

9. Plato's Ideas Theory of Ideas- everything has a sort of ideal form
“Allegory of the Cave” – Socrates’ story but Plato often gets the credit for it

10. Plato's Legacy Started a school for philosophers called “The Academy”
Used Socrates’ work as a foundation for the teaching practices and subject matter
Basis of today’s HS and College curriculum formats
One of Plato’s students was Aristotle

11. Aristotle Not originally from Athens From a middle class family
Studied at Plato’s Academy
Later left Athens and tutored Alexander the Great (who later took over most of the known world at the time)
Father of today’s scientific method- used Socrates’ logical methods and applied to real world