Socrates devoted the whole of his adult life to philosophy, or the love of wisdom. Not only that, but philosophy was so important to him that he was prepared to sacrifice his life for it. Socrates ruffled more than a few feathers as he went about Athens, asking people difficult questions about the meaning of justice and so forth. His method of getting at the truth forced people to question their most prized and cherished beliefs. To some in Athens this was a profoundly uncomfortable experience, not least because it seemed that Socrates was prepared to turn the established order upside-down in his quest for the truth.
Eventually, Socrates' restless intellectual spirit got him into serious trouble with the authorities, and he was put to death by being forced to drink hemlock. Ever since then he has been revered as a martyr to the cause of truth. Socrates set a...
Unlock
This Answer NowStart your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
shining example for countless other philosophers who followed in his wake by questioning and challenging the values and assumptions on which his society was based, irrespective of the consequences to himself. Socrates may not have written any books, but then he didn't need to; he lived his philosophy every day of his life. Instead of writing down his ideas, he acted them out.
A quote often associated with Socrates is that "the unexamined life is not worth living." It is this emphasis on reflection, intellectual discourse, and ideas that makes Socrates the very personification of philosophy. It makes sense that a discipline rooted in "philos," or love, of "sophia," or wisdom, would have Socrates as its very embodiment.
One reason why Socrates is the embodiment of philosophy is because of his willingness to engage others in debate and discourse. He lived it. Socrates, himself, did not write any works, but rather simply walked around and participated in discussion about issues such as truth, justice, and ethics. He did not have another job. Socrates did not "do philosophy" on the side. He was what he talked about and he sincerely embraced the idea that the unexamined life was not worth living. His commitment to philosophical inquiry is one reason why he is the embodiment of the genre. Simply put, he did not do anything else.
Socrates is the embodiment of philosophy because of his method of discussion. Socrates did not preach to others. Rather, he posed question after question. He was not content with a simplistic and reductive answer. True to a discipline that loved wisdom, Socrates sought to enhance understanding through questioning techniques that generated intricacy of thought. Socrates embodied philosophy because of his willingness to integrate the act of questioning into his very being. Socrates sought answers, but recognized the power of the questions. It was the questions that drove Socrates, something that he believed should be the basis of all human beings. Socrates embodies philosophy because he never accepted stated truth, rather seeking to scrutinize it through questioning analysis.
Socrates believed that philosophy contained the key to being in the world. If individuals sought to understand their purpose, it was through philosophical inquiry. Socrates believed that societies can be shaped through philosophy and the individual pursuit for a life that embraces the good, the true, and the beautiful can only be achieved through philosophy. It is his zeal towards philosophy that makes Socrates the embodiment of the discipline. There are few others who represent the purest of love and sincere belief in the power of philosophy. It is for this reason that Socrates can be seen as the embodiment of philosophy.