Socrates’ Athens. Who was Socrates? A citizen of Athens born 470 BCE to a stone mason & a midwife....
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Socrates’ Athens
Socrates’ Athens. Who was Socrates? A citizen of Athens born 470 BCE to a stone mason & a midwife. Full participant in life of the polis. Inquired into
Who was Socrates? A citizen of Athens born 470 BCE to a stone
mason & a midwife. Full participant in life of the polis.
Inquired into the nature of virtue
Slide 3
Greeces Golden Age: 5th C BCE.
Slide 4
Athens was the cultural capital of the ancient world, known for
achievements in art, science, literature, commerce and
politics.
Slide 5
Age of Pericles Pericles promoted democratic reforms arts &
culture expanded Athens's power & prestige fl. 438 BCE d. 429
BCE
Slide 6
Our government is called a democracy because it exists for the
sake of the majority, not the few. The law guarantees all citizens
equality with respect to their private interests and yet recognizes
claims of individual excellence.
Slide 7
The Sophists A group of traveling teachers for hire. Known for
teaching virtue, among other subjects, such as equestrian skills,
public speaking, math, science, etc. Protagoras Man is the measure
of all things, of what is that it is and of what is not that it is
not.
Slide 8
The Oracle at DelphiDelphi Founded in 1400 BCE Know thy
self
Slide 9
He spent time in the agora seeking a man wiser than he among
the politicians, the poets, the generals, the priests. He
questioned them on the nature of virtue or human excellence. Plato
recreates these conversations in his early Dialogues. A group of
mostly aristocratic young men followed him and imitated him.
Slide 10
Alcibiades Brilliant, talented, beautiful Follower of Socrates
Elected General of Athens Betrayed Athens to Sparta
Slide 11
Jean-Lon Grme (1824-1904) Socrates Seeking Alcibiades at the
House of Aspasia, 1861,
Slide 12
Regnault. Socrates Dragging Alcibiades from the Embrace of
Sensual Pleasure (1791, Paris, Muse du Louvre)
Slide 13
Michele De Napoli "Death of Alcibiades" (1839)
Slide 14
War with Sparta 431-404 BCE Athenian democracy was utterly
defeated Ended the Golden Age of Athens
Slide 15
Trial & Death of Socrates Socrates was associated with the
sophists & Alcibiades by his enemies. He was charged with
impiety and corruption of the youth And sentenced to death in 399
BCE
Slide 16
Socrates Legacy Believed human excellence (virtue) was
knowledge Demanded we question ourselves and one another. Follow
the argument.
Slide 17
The unexamined life is not worth living.
Slide 18
Plato The Skeptics The Cynics The Hedonists The Stoics Zeno
Epicurus Aristotle Antisthenes Diogenes Aristippus
Slide 19
Which of us goes to the better is unclear to all but the
gods.
