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What is the purpose of Socrates? Philosophy of Socrates: concise and clear

At the end of the 5th century BC. V Ancient Greece there was a serious crisis of the political system, as well as cultural life, which was accompanied by the active dissemination of the ideas of the sophists, who did not recognize the existence of a single truth and believed that it was their own for everyone. These teachings undermined social values quite strongly. In such conditions, according to Socrates, it was important to find salvation, but not in hiding traditions from criticism, but in knowledge and comprehension. inner world person.

Socrates did not leave behind written works, but his oral statements and thoughts have come down to our days through the works of his students, primarily Plato and Xenophon. At the same time, it cannot be assumed that we can absolutely judge the philosophy of this ancient Greek sage, since his judgments and theories are conveyed in different ways. Often in the literature there are discussions about who exactly conveyed the teachings of Socrates in a purer and unchanged form. It must be understood that Socrates discussed completely different things with the commander Xenophon and with the philosopher Plato. In addition, there is the ancient Greek comedy "Clouds", in which the philosopher appears as a sophist and a man who does not recognize the gods, however, it is now impossible to find exact evidence of its truth.

Brief biographical note

The future philosopher was born in the family of a sculptor and a midwife on the so-called unclean day, therefore, theoretically, he could be sacrificed if such a decision was made by a meeting of people. In his youth, he studied the arts with the sophist Damon, listened to the lectures and reasoning of Anaxagoras, and was a literate man, able to read and write.

Socrates is known not only as a sage, but also as a brave commander who distinguished himself in important battles, including the famous Peloponnesian War, as a militia. He led a poor and modest life. People called him a tireless debater who refused to accept expensive gifts and preferred old clothes. Judging by the notes and memoirs of his conversations that have survived to this day, it can be noted that Socrates was so educated and wise that he could discuss on completely different topics: from crafts and arts to military affairs and justice.

Many people know how life ended famous philosopher. He himself took the poison, as he was sentenced to death for disrespecting the local gods, introducing new idols, and corrupting the minds of young people.

General characteristics of the doctrine

Socrates believed that the strengthening of society occurs through a deep knowledge of the human essence in general and human actions in particular. For him, the theoretical and the practical are inseparable. Because of this, it is impossible to designate as a philosopher one who has wisdom, but is devoid of virtue in terms of behavioral characteristics and lifestyle.

Thus, true “love of wisdom” is realized in the desire to combine knowledge and virtue. Therefore, philosophy is not limited only to theoretical teachings, but also to practical activities. Wise men should cultivate good deeds, right living, and encourage others to do the same.

It should be noted that Socrates refused to study the phenomena of nature and the cosmos, because he believed that people could not influence them in any way, and, therefore, it was not worth wasting time on such things. At the same time, the philosopher recognized the importance of mathematical discoveries, the achievements of astronomy, medicine, geometry and other sciences, advising only not to get too carried away in these areas, paying attention to the humanitarian spheres.

If we talk about his ideas about the state and society, then Socrates spoke out for the rule of noble people without involving philosophers and sages in such matters. However, since he actively defended the truth, he was forced to take part in the public life of Athens. After the establishment of dictatorship and tyranny, Socrates condemned them with all his might, and also ignored political events.

Socratic method

Socrates' most important contribution to philosophical thought At that time there was a dialectical method of research. He did not teach others any coherent system of knowledge, but he helped to find the truth by probing it with leading questions. Initially, in the discussion, Socrates pretended to be ignorant. After that, the philosopher began to ask skillfully formulated questions, forcing people to think and reason. When they came to absurd or ridiculous conclusions, Socrates demonstrated exactly how to resolve the situation and answer correctly.

This method is extremely important and interesting, because it encourages a person to use his mind, arouses interest in the problem, and also helps to develop intellectually. It is interesting to note that Socrates considered the activities he carried out to be similar to the work of his mother (she was a midwife): after all, he contributed to the birth of people not of children, but of thoughts.

On what other foundations were Socrates' dialogues built?

irony - it is found in all his conversations, the philosopher seems to be subtly mocking his opponent. For this reason, the "Dialogues" transmitted by Plato are full of funny scenes and hilarious situations. However, Socrates laughs for a reason, but at people who are too confident in their knowledge, and also extremely arrogant. The irony of the philosopher is also directed at those who are blindly faithful to traditions, not recognizing anything new;
hypotheses - Socrates in his discussions periodically builds any assumptions, trying to prove or disprove them, and not just for the sake of creating a dispute and conducting controversy, as the sophists used to do;
definition is extremely important, because before talking about something, you need to clearly define all the terms and concepts used, especially if they are ambiguous. Without this, it is absolutely impossible to reach a consensus.

Doctrine of good and evil

The right and true choice occurs only in the process of knowing good and evil, as well as finding one's place in the world. The main value and importance of good and bad lies in their direct impact on the human personality. It is the awareness of virtue that is able to control people: one who has realized the good and the bad will continue to act as knowledge tells him.

So, we can conclude that Socrates considers a person to be initially non-evil, and also not committing evil deeds voluntarily. In addition, the philosopher argued the identity of good and good, which are essentially one and the same term. Later, some schools interpreted such statements in the spirit of utilitarianism and even hedonism, however, in fact, Socrates did not reduce everything to material gain. He only meant the "true", as it were, sublime benefit of such feelings.

ethical doctrine

Happiness, according to the ancient Greek philosopher, consists in a prudent and virtuous existence. Thus, only those who have a high level of morality can achieve it. Ethics, as Socrates says, should help people become moral, and therefore happy.

The main virtues, according to Socrates, were:

courage, or knowing how to get out of a dangerous situation with intelligence and fearlessness;
justice - understanding how laws work, how they are applied and observed by people. At the same time, they are divided into written (the basis of state power) and unwritten (given by God to all mankind in all countries);
temperance (or moderation in everything) - this means that a person must be able to cope with his passions, as well as subordinate all his aspirations to reason.

He considered ignorance to be the source of immorality. Thus, the concepts of truth and goodness in the philosophy of Socrates are identical and inseparable.

So, the main and most important contribution of Socrates to philosophy was the introduction of a special dialectical method of research. According to this approach, a person thought and received new knowledge only when he tried to find an answer to a question posed both by others and by himself. During the dialogue, various points of view, arguments are considered, and in a dispute, as you know, the truth appears.

Socrates urged not to get too carried away with the natural sciences, concentrating on the humanities, since it is they who help us to know ourselves, our activities in general, and also make people really noble. The subject of philosophy is also aimed at the study of man, his way of thinking and life. Therefore, the motto of Socrates became the well-known phrase: "Know thyself."

Our contemporaries do not have enough information about the great philosopher Socrates, much is a mystery. He left no records during his lifetime. Only from the works of his students Plato and Xenophon can we get an idea of the life of Socrates.

The life of Socrates and even his death are considered a shining example and model of wisdom and virtue.

We do know, however, that he was the son of Sophroniscus and Fainareti of the municipality of Alopeki, born in Athens in 470 BC. He married Xanthippe in his old age, 3 children were born in the marriage.

Socrates (Σωκράτης) is famous for the fact that he radically changed the philosophical doctrine from natural consideration to a real person.

Philosophy of Socrates

Home hallmark Athenian philosopher was his high morality, simple and modest lifestyle, good-natured humor, sincerity and wit. Socrates believed that the best way for a person's life is to focus on self-development, and not to pursue material wealth. He urged others to focus more on friendship and a sense of community because it The best way survive together. Dignity is worth more than anything in an ideal life, he devoted all his speeches to the search for virtue. Truth lies in the shadow of existence and there can be only one, independent of our desires, and a person must obey it. And first you need to find it, going through reflections, doubts, contradictions.

According to Socrates, a philosopher should help a person find his truth, not offer ready-made answers, but try to orient him in the numerous elements of thoughts and ideas.

The famous dialogue or method of Socrates was based on a discussion between two individuals in the form of "question and answer". This method allowed him to explore the depth of the interlocutor's thoughts.

Behind philosophical studies many watched, mostly young people. They formed a group around him, which was not a school, because Socrates did not teach systematically, he carried on a conversation with people of any social class.

Unlike the sophists (paid ancient Greek teachers of persuasion and eloquence), Socrates did not take money from his students. He avoided involvement in politics and preferred to pursue his own independent course.

He considered himself a gadfly and that the bites of a gadfly disturb the self-satisfied citizens, awakening them from their slumber.

Socrates believed that self-knowledge should be sufficient to live a good life, equated knowledge with virtue, believed that people can achieve absolute knowledge, but this is not always painless, compared knowledge with the pain of childbirth, he also considered logic a prerequisite.

Socrates said that when people act unethically on purpose, their desires take precedence over their reason. Otherwise, a person does not know what is right and what is not, for this there is simply not enough knowledge about how it is appropriate to behave in certain circumstances. Thus, we are responsible for what we know and what we do not know and therefore we are responsible for our own happiness. The conclusions that the philosopher drew from this were called "paradoxes."

The famous phrase of Socrates: "I only know that I know nothing", had a continuation: "but others do not know this either." He encouraged people to take care of their souls, to know themselves, because only in this way can we know ourselves, only then can we begin to take care of ourselves. He considered the soul as the true essence of human virtue, that which allows the filling of human nature through search and improvement. Self-knowledge is wisdom and can tell right from wrong (both for us and for others). Every day everyone is faced with situations in which they must choose between convenient convention or devotion to truth and reason. Socrates believed that we should never do bad things, even in response to a negative attack on us. To develop in oneself such qualities as courage, wisdom, modesty, to be able to admit one's ignorance and always remain human.

Death of Socrates

They accused Socrates of disrespect for the gods and corrupting the youth. At that time he was 70 years old. His death holds even more mysteries than his life.

One suggestion was that Socrates was a scapegoat, that his death was a laxative for the evils of Athens.

Socrates' prison in Athens

Socrates said that no true philosopher is afraid of death: “I believe that everything that happened to me is good and those who think that death is bad are wrong. Moreover, not a single demon has expressed the opposite point of view, which means that I am speaking correctly. Whether death is non-existence and loss of consciousness, or as others say, it is the migration of the soul from this world to another. Provided that there is no consciousness, and sleep is touched by dreams, then death will be an untold gain. Because if someone wants to sleep peacefully, I believe that this will be one of the best nights of their lives. Essentially eternity will be one night. But if death is a journey to another place where everyone is dead, then what could be better than that? Will it be possible to communicate with Homer, Orpheus, Hesiod?

If so, then let me die again and again! I will meet those condemned to death like Palamidi and compare the suffering of all. First of all, I will be able to continue to search for truth and wrong knowledge, as in this world, and try to find what makes sense. So let's rejoice in death and know that nothing bad can happen to a good man before or after death. The gods won't allow it.

I can clearly see that it is best for me to die and be free, I am not angry with my accusers because I have not suffered, although of course they do not wish me well. And also, when my sons grow up, I want to ask you to punish them if they strive for wealth, and not for virtue.

Socrates from Athens (470 - 399 BC) - one of key figures V ancient Greek philosophy. He was born in Athens, was the son of a stonemason and a midwife. He himself did not write anything, and all the information about his life and his philosophical views was drawn from the works of his students and contemporaries, primarily Xenophon and Plato. There is a legend that in his youth Socrates visited Delphi, where the famous temple of Apollo was located, and he was greatly impressed by the inscription in this temple: "Know thyself." Socrates interpreted this as a call to clarify the paths of knowledge leading to an understanding of one's essence and one's place in the world. Man, the values of his being, the main guidelines of his life become the leading theme of Socrates' reflections.

Sophists believed that there are no absolute values, everything is conditional. For this they were criticized. The main goal of Socrates' philosophy is to restore the authority of knowledge, shaken by the sophists. The Sophists neglected the truth, and Socrates made it his beloved. The Sophists did not reckon with the truth for the sake of money and wealth, while Socrates remained faithful to the truth and lived in poverty. The Sophists claimed to be omniscient, while Socrates kept repeating: he only knows that he knows nothing. Socrates was sure that there are absolute concepts. The most important thing for a person is to learn how to use his mind, build correct reasoning, develop sound concepts. The attention of Socrates is directed not to the observable phenomena in themselves, but to the concepts expressing their essence. He recognizes as useful such knowledge, which is expressed in convincing, undeniable concepts. Socrates began a dialectical search. In his research, two stages can be traced: critical and evidence-based. The critical stage was to destroy the complacency in which his interlocutors were. Socrates was outwardly unsightly man, walked in a careless manner, often barefoot, even in winter. He addressed noble people, asking them questions: what is good and evil, love, happiness, politics, the state, etc. The main method developed and applied by Socrates is called "Maieutics". The word "Maieutics" from the ancient Greek language is translated as "obstetrics". In relation to the methodology of cognition, the meaning of this term lies in the fact that the birth of each time a refined and updated truth must be helped (like the birth of a child).

This method was formed from the following rules for Socrates' creative search for an updated and enriched truth. Socrates originally intended to consider any initial concept as a hypothesis. Even substantiated scientific knowledge, which seems absolutely reliable, will inevitably reveal a certain incompleteness, inaccuracy, abstractness, subjective conceptuality - such is the fundamental epistemological position sage from Athens.

Initially, Socrates asked his interlocutors and opponents to formulate a thesis about the problem being solved. He tentatively agreed with the original thesis. Then he convicted the opponent of inaccuracies, internal inconsistency of certain provisions, demonstrating the incompleteness and imperfection of the point of view.

Critical analysis was deepened by selecting facts that contradicted the formulated point of view, plausible examples that reduced certain provisions or the concept as a whole to absurdity. Often he critically reduced the original formulation to the opposite meaning. Socrates liked to accompany a dialogue or argument with caustic irony, ridiculing skepticism. By doing this, he purposefully put the opponent in a position of misunderstanding, forcing him to think creatively in the process of searching for a more correct (correct) answer. Socrates posed questions in such a way that it became obvious that truth is not given once and for all in finished form, it is developed each time with elements of novelty in the process of individual or collective creative search.

The structure of the Socratic method included the improvement of the definitions of fundamental concepts, theses, principles in the context of their renewal. In the process of defining concepts, similarities and differences were established in terms of their scope and content in relation to various cases. Reception of clarification of concepts, initial theses contributed to creative work during the discussion.

The final method in the Socratic technology of conducting a discussion was the method of pointing opponents to a generalized answer, more enriched with new content. However, in it Socrates again found aspects of incompleteness, controversial hypotheticality and inconsistency in relation to new facts. It became obvious that the researcher could not stop at the achieved results and consider the concept as revealed in the last resort for all time and in relation to all conditions. So he provoked the continuation of the creative search. The method assumed the consideration of a creative product as conditionally, and relatively authentically true. Only further investigation of the problem, according to his teaching, will save the truth from aging and death.

Socrates criticized dogmatism in beliefs. He taught the cognizing subjects a continuous, progressive progress towards the essences of a deeper order. He understood the purpose of his method in such a way that over time everything should be updated: scientific knowledge, philosophical concepts, legal laws, creeds, ethical norms.

The ethics of Socrates is rigorous, i.e. recognizes the existence of prescribed ethical standards. Conventionally, the ethical views of Socrates can be reduced to the following provisions:

1. ethical rationalism - morality is based on knowledge. If the truth is good, then the person who knows it will not act to the detriment of himself and others;

2. The main virtues are: wisdom, justice, moderation and courage. Courage is a product of the human will;

3. the unity of morality and law - is the basis of the virtue of the policy. "What is lawful is just."

The second side of the ethics of Socrates is connected with eudemonism, i.e. doctrine of happiness. According to Socrates, happiness is the rational life of a person. The task of ethics is to make a person reasonable. The basis of morality is knowledge. Socrates considered himself a happy man.

The political views of Socrates were based on the conviction that power in the state should belong to the "best", i.e. experienced, honest, fair, decent and certainly possessing the art of public administration. He sharply criticized the shortcomings of contemporary Athenian democracy. From his point of view: "The worst is the majority!" After all, not everyone who elects rulers understands political and state issues and can assess the degree of professionalism of those elected, their moral and intellectual level. Socrates stood up for professionalism in management matters, in deciding who and whom can and should be elected to leadership positions.

Socrates had many friends and enemies. The enemies decided to settle scores with him and filed a complaint against him in the Athenian court. He was accused of corrupting the youth and planting new gods. As a result of various intrigues, he was ultimately sentenced to death. Refusing the opportunity provided by his friends to flee, Socrates died by drinking poison (hemlock).

Historical meaning activities of Socrates in that he:

promoted the dissemination of knowledge, enlightenment of citizens;

· looking for answers to the eternal problems of mankind - good and evil, love, honor, etc.;

· discovered the method of maieutics, widely used in modern education;

· introduced a dialogical method of finding the truth - by proving it in a free dispute, and not declaring, as a number of previous philosophers did;

· brought up many students, successors of his work (for example, Plato), stood at the origins of a number of so-called "Socratic schools".

Introduction:

1. Relevance of the work

2.short biography Socrates

Section 1:

1. Analysis of Aristophanes' comedy "Clouds"

2.Historical reference

3. Plato's dialogues and the image of Socrates

4. Curriculum vitae

5. "Feast" and Socrates

Conclusion

Bibliography

Notes

Introduction

1. Relevance of the work

Thanks to philosophy, humanity is able to cognize the world in all its diversity, variability and uniqueness. People learn to distinguish good from evil, light from dark, they learn the questions of beauty and the Universe.

Much of what the ancient sages wrote and talked about is relevant to this day, so philosophy can be called the science of life and for life.

The purpose of this work is to try to understand and explore part of the philosophical heritage of one of the most interesting thinkers of Ancient Greece, Socrates, using individual literary examples; analyze what his contemporaries saw, and express their own position in relation to this philosopher.

Brief biography of Socrates

ancient greek philosopher Socrates ( 470-399 BC BC) is one of the founders of dialectics as a method of finding truth by asking leading questions. This is a method using consistent and systematically asked questions that should lead the interlocutor to a logical contradiction with himself, revealing ignorance and then forming a consistent judgment.

Socrates was born during the feast of Far helia (the birth of Apollo and Artemis, the feast of purification). Followers say that the whole life of the philosopher passed under the sign of Apollo, in the family of a sculptor and a midwife. He received the usual for that era music (the study of music, poetry, sculpture, painting, philosophy, speech, counting) and gymnastic education. At the age of 18, Socrates was recognized as a citizen of Athens. At the age of 20, Socrates is engaged in military affairs, he takes part in the Peloponnesian War, where he manifests himself as a valiant and hardy warrior.

After the war, Socrates continues the work of his father and he is credited with the authorship of the sculpture “Three Dressed Charites (muses of grace, beauty, poetry, etc.). But then he begins to study philosophy and continues this until the end of his life. He walked in winter and summer in one thin raincoat and barefoot. Socrates believed that the external should not distract from the search for truth and the service of the highest good.

The philosopher was married twice, from his second wife, Xanthippe, he left four children. Socrates was accused of "worshiping new deities" and "corrupting the youth" and sentenced to death (he took hemlock poison).

Socrates always expounded his doctrine orally; the main source is the writings of his students Xenophon and Plato. The goal of Socrates' philosophy is self-knowledge as a way to comprehend the true good; virtue is knowledge or wisdom.

1. Analysis of Aristophanes' comedy "Clouds"

If we consider the image of Socrates in ancient literature, then first of all, we need to talk about the comedy of Aristophanes "Clouds". How did the Greek comedian see the famous philosopher, and how does this vision compare with the ideas about Socrates that have survived to this day?

First of all, I would like to dwell on the name of the comedy - "Clouds". She is so called because her choir is made up of clouds, those new deities that Socrates recognizes in place of the old Greek deities.

The plot of the comedy is based on the fact that the commoner Strepsiades, who is entirely connected with the village, but lives in the city and bewildered by sophists, tries to prove to his numerous creditors with the help of sophistic tricks that he is not obliged to pay them his debts. To do this, he goes to the think room, that is, to the school of Socrates, but nothing comes of his education. Then he sends to Socrates his son Pheidippides, a depraved young man, who easily learns the skill of arguing from the sophists, thanks to which Strepsiades easily settles with two creditors. But during the festive feast, father and son quarrel, as a result of which Pheidippides beats his father, citing borrowed arguments from the sophists for this. If necessary, he is ready to beat his own mother. The angry father burns the house of Socrates in a fit of temper.

From the comedy "Clouds" we immediately understand how Aristophanes relates to Socrates. From the very first pages we see with what contempt and malice Pheidippides speaks of Socrates and his disciples:

- Wise men live behind it. If you listen to them, it turns out that the sky is a simple iron stove, and people are coals in this stove.

-A! I know these wise men! Scoundrels pale-faced! Barefoot bastard! Yes rascals! The fool Socrates and his best disciple - the mad Charefont!

Having read only this dialogue, we immediately understand what Socrates really is, and how representatives of different generations see him. For example, the father of Phidippides Strepsiades admires the wisdom of this philosopher, sets him as an example, and believes that he will help the old man get rid of debts. And the son of Strepsiades, on the contrary, insults and scolds the philosopher in every possible way and, thereby, he tries to prove to his father the absurdity and meaninglessness of such a doctrine. He seemed to foresee what would happen to him after learning from Socrates. (“... I feel that I will return pale and withered!”)

"Clouds" is the author's mockery of the widespread fascination with sophistry, which dominated ancient Greece in 50-40 years. BC. This mockery runs through the entire comedy of Aristophanes, but it is especially vividly shown in various details that complete and finally outline the image of this philosopher.

From the point of view of Aristophanes, the thinker appears in comedy as a teacher of false wisdom and the ability to deceive in disputes. But it must immediately be said that the figure of Socrates cannot be considered only from the position of one specific author or person. Socrates is a very complex and in many ways contradictory personality. If someone thought that great philosopher was just that, then this opinion is not always the ultimate truth, because so many facts from the biography of Socrates have not yet been clarified.

But numerous researchers of the life and legacy of the great thinker proved that Socrates was an opponent of the sophists, since they acted as teachers of wisdom. And wisdom and eloquence were for Socrates neither an end in itself, nor the basis of philosophical activity.

Socrates believed that a dispute is a way and a way of searching for truth, for the sophists, a dispute is just an intellectual game. Therefore, speaking about the image of Socrates in the comedy of Aristophanes "Clouds", it should be remembered that we are talking only about personal the comedian's perception of the personality of this philosopher, but not as an objective and comprehensive assessment.

2. Historical background

Sophistry- (Sofos- wise, sage) - the first precedent in the history of European culture paid intellectual labor. (The Sophists considered themselves teachers of wisdom and, moving from city to city, took tuition fees.).

Sophists they sold any knowledge and skills, and believed that any science or skill (geometry, embroidery, exact sciences, etc.) could be taught, but the main thing that could be learned, according to the sophists, was virtues. (It was only necessary to comprehend philosophy of the sophists).

Philosophy of the Sophists based on several key themes:

1) - there is no objective truth, everything is relative,

and depends on the point of view of a particular person; The most important thing is to be able to convince that one is right, the one who knows how to convince speaks the truth. Therefore, the most important scienceRHETORIC;

2) - a refutation of the previous system of moral values (the main thing is not the nobility of the family or justice, but the ability to benefit, i.e. -PRACTICALITY;

3)- “Man is the measure of all things” ®The motto of all sophistry.

Protagoras 4) - “Gods were invented by people to justify their deeds” Yu any denial of gods and religiosity.

So, what are the most characteristic details used in "Clouds" to create a very specific image of Socrates?

“….. The door to the think room opened and Strepsiades saw other students. They were thin and emaciated. Glances are directed to the ground. ...... I did not forget to mention their most important quality - about thrift, which is manifested in the fact that neither the teacher nor the students shave and never go to the bathhouse. …. ”

It is on such seemingly insignificant details that the comedy of Aristophanes is built. And, already starting with these small strokes, readers begin to read Clouds more carefully, and gradually the whole depth of this work unfolds before them. However, this comedy should not be considered only as a parody of the philosophical doctrine that was fashionable and popular at that time. In my opinion, Aristophanes by his work, as it were, warns readers and descendants against those false teachings and mistakes that he displayed in his comedy. It seems to me that "Clouds" are most directly related to our life today. After all, much of what was described by Aristophanes is relevant today. For example, in The Clouds, long before modern times, such a problem is shown as simply fooling people who believed it. philosophical teaching, and as a result, they turned out to be simply deceived, and even paying large sums of money. Long before the 20th century, a century when many moral qualities and values were lost, and all relationships are based solely on connections and money, this problem was posed in Ancient Greece as early as the 4th century BC. e.

Let us recall, for example, how indignant Strepsiades was when he discovered what one of the most famous philosophers of that time taught his son:

“ Strepsiades called his son, said:

Let's go and beat Socrates with the abominable Charephon! Both of them entangled us!

<…>Chicken blindness! I mistook a ghost for a god.<…>Ah, I'm stupid! He drove the gods away and traded for Socrates! …”.

In addition to the problem of extracting money for incomprehensible teachings, no less important problems are posed in the comedy "Clouds". First of all, this is a problem of faith, and not even so much belief in some deities or powers, but rather a problem of morality and religiosity. However, one should immediately distinguish between the generally accepted point of view of most researchers of the life and teachings of Socrates and the special, largely personal and subjective position of Aristophanes. It is he who portrays the philosopher as such an atheist who destroys everything bright and pure, and only leads the youth astray from the right and true path. But this is absolutely not true, because Socrates himself constantly says that he serves the gods and fulfills the instructions of the gods, and the main thing for him is to know the truth and educate a real citizen. It is also necessary to mention once again that Socrates was an opponent of the sophists and believed that philosophy should serve the common good, this goes against the image of a thinker that Aristophanes painted in his comedy. (“Know thyself” is the motto of the whole life of Socrates, that is, one must know oneself for spiritual perfection).

And yet, how, according to the comedian, could the problem of morality and belief be solved in the comedy “Clouds”? In my opinion, this issue can be considered through some features of this work. If you carefully read the comedy, then one detail that is very characteristic of Aristophanes' Clouds immediately catches your eye. From the very beginning, Pheidippides' father stands in the position of defending his faith, he sacredly honors the ancient gods and customs, and, at first, he absolutely cannot accept the position of Socrates, who is trying to prove that in fact there are no gods, these are all inventions of people who only blindly believe their superstitions. And here lies the key to unraveling the image of the thinker, which Aristophanes painted in his comedy. It was with the arrival of Strepsiades to Socrates and the dispute about the existence of the gods that the cynicism, greed, cruelty and intolerance of the philosopher to any position that would be at least a little different from his own, which, according to Aristophanes, were inherent in the thinker and his students from the very beginning. In fact, Socrates in his dispute with Strepsiades behaved in exactly the same way as he would behave in his time main character in the work of I.S. Turgenev "Fathers and Sons" Bazarov. Socrates also takes the position of nihilism [ 7 ] in relation to religion, love, art and beauty. It is this nihilistic position that is beautifully illustrated by the episode of Pheidippides' return to his father. When Strepsiades asks his son to play the lyre for him, as he did before, he instantly loses his temper, because now he knows that “the custom of singing over a bowl has long been outdated, it has been preserved only among commoners”; when the father asks Pheidippides to read something from his favorite Greek poets, then instead of the beautiful verses of Aeschylus [6] or some other author, he reads the vulgar, stupid and shameful verses of Euripides. But when the father, enraged by such impudent behavior of his son, began to scold and scold him, Pheidippides attacked Strepsiades with his fists. In other words, it can be assumed that Socrates was not accidentally accused of corrupting youth, because what the sage and his followers taught was not the doctrine of virtue, but only the destruction of holy family ties and traditions; this teaching distorted the soul, made accessible and permissible what was previously, if not banned, then at least allowed both society and the individual to develop towards moral growth, nobility and spiritual purity. Drawing parallels with today, in my opinion, Socrates and his associates in the comedy of Aristophanes are the prototype of today's satanic sects. Maybe that's why the author calls the house of Socrates a "satanic nest". Just as today very few people return from religious sects with an intact psyche, in the same way people return from Socrates with completely different ideas about the world, God, and life. And now, considering this comedy from this point of view, it becomes quite clear why Pheidippides speaks badly of Socrates and his students from the very beginning. As I have already said, the son of Strepsiades, as if he already knew in advance what this philosopher was like. “… After that you will repent hard!” is a confirmation of this conclusion.

However, finishing the conversation about the problem of religiosity, one should not forget about the last, and, in my opinion, crowning this comedy phrase:

“- I have many reasons to take revenge on you, scoundrels, but the main thing is that you have dishonored the gods!” If we talk about The Clouds in general, it becomes clear that not a single phrase, not a single detail was written by Aristophanes by chance, absolutely everything in this comedy was aimed at creating a psychologically specific image of a philosopher and thinker, which the author depicted and presented in his comedy.

So what is the actual significance of the last phrase of Strepsiades, and why does Aristophanes place it precisely at the end, and not at the beginning or middle of the comedy? It seems to me that the author is trying through the “Clouds” and the clash of Strepsiades and Socrates to bring out ideas about what true and false faith is, how to separate the wheat from the chaff, and the most important thing, in my opinion, is the idea that good ultimately, evil triumphs. If you really believe in real idea, follow certain life and moral standards, then even despite the false beliefs and teachings, which sometimes seem much better than the old ones, your position will still be the strongest and you will ultimately achieve truth and justice, and evil will be punished . “<…>The whole house of Socrates quickly went up in flames. Shouting, the students jumped out of it, Charefont and the teacher himself. Seeing Strepsiades, they begged the old man for mercy, but the old man was deaf to the prayers of the atheists.<…>". And indeed, if you carefully read “The Clouds”, then you involuntarily take the position of a smart, albeit a little funny, but at the same time very simple and in his own way smart old man Strepsiad and, at the same time, everything he does, says and thinks about Socrates causes, if not irritation, then at least laughter and malicious smiles from readers. However, speaking about the comedy of Aristophanes, it should be remembered that this work is like a polyhedral prism, therefore, considering one facet, one should not forget about the others, too, just as it is impossible to calculate the volume of a geometric body, knowing only one parameter. On the one hand, there is a clear problem with shamelessly extorting money from people, opposing old ideas to new ones, etc., but on the other hand, this is a social comedy, and much, as has been mentioned more than once, from what is written in “ Clouds”, is still relevant today. Passing through the entire comedy the images of Socrates and Strepsiades, Aristophanes identified a problem no less important than those already identified, namely, the attitude towards everything new, incomprehensible. After all, it is Socrates in this comedy who first asks the question about the structure of the Universe, about the nature of many phenomena. And although today his assumptions are that, for example, lightning occurs when “hot air rises from below and flies into sky-high heights. From the inside, he inflates a huge bubble. The bubble bursts, hot air, whistling and bubbling, flies out of it and burns out from strong friction” cause only a cheerful smile, yet it is precisely these, even if absolutely absurd ideas, that will serve in the future as the basis for the development of physics, mathematics and other exact sciences. Similarly, the position of Socrates in relation to polytheism. It is the denial of the very fact of the existence of gods (from the point of view of Aristophanes) that will subsequently lead to atheism, or, ultimately, monotheism. And, considering the comedy "Clouds", the confrontation between Socrates and Strepsiades, one must always remember that it depicts the confrontation of two eras: the era of "fathers" and the era of "children". It is easy to understand that the “fathers” are Strepsiades, and the “children” are Socrates, Charefont, Pheidippides, etc. , whose era is better, has existed from eternity, and Aristophanes only tried to reflect the most acute contradictions in this comedy.

But let us return directly to the very image of Socrates. As I said, Aristophanes reveals it through hundreds of imperceptible, insignificant details. (Here, a “lizard put” a great thinker in his mouth, a flea hid in his head, but Socrates, along with his students, lie down on a bed with bedbugs, etc.). However, it is these details that set the reader on a certain position in relation to both Socrates and his opponents.

Speaking or revealing any image of a literary character, it is impossible not to say about the characteristic actions of this hero, gestures, actions, expressions, and also not to mention how other people see him. First of all, exploring the image of Socrates, drawn by a comedian, I would like to dwell on those characteristic words and deeds, thanks to which Aristophanes speaks with irony about his character. Throughout the comedy, Socrates is portrayed as a very calm, one might say, phlegmatic person. But this opinion is not entirely correct. When Strepsiades comes to Socrates, we see how the sage begins to lose his temper, seeing how his student cannot remember elementary reasoning and conclusions. However, if we now recall the arrival of Pheidippides to the philosopher, then Socrates, despite the rudeness and harshness with which he is addressed, still remains calm, and even good-natured and affable. This characterizes the thinker, from the point of view of Aristophanes, as a two-faced and contradictory person. Reading the comedy “Clouds”, an image of Socrates is involuntarily created as a cunning, arrogant, greedy person, capable of lies and deception, (“<…>I don’t know, I don’t know how to teach him introductions, conclusions and generalizations? Although for a hundred coins<…>”), and if we return to the religious aspect in comedy, the philosopher may even seem like a devil, a philosopher - a devil who, for some services or a certain fee, buys and lures the souls of lost sinners into his kingdom. He behaves like the owner of a huge policy, and anyone who decides to come to him should be grateful for this favor for the rest of his life. But after all, it is to him that Strepsiades turns, so that Socrates will teach him those sciences that will help to cope with hated debts. That is why the old man feels very uncomfortable at the philosopher's house, he [Strepsiades] feels reverent awe and horror at the wisdom of this thinker. But is it really

the devil is terrible, how is he painted? In my opinion, Aristophanes portrayed Socrates as an ordinary swindler, swindler and rogue, who, like modern swindlers, is able to easily say any “tricky” things to a person and, thereby, leave him in the cold and without money. Naturally, with such an image of the philosopher, he looks ridiculous and absurd, but Aristophanes was striving for this result when he wrote his famous comedy Clouds. Now it is necessary to dwell on the nature of Socrates' relationship with the people around him. Most of the characters in the comedy of Aristophanes treat this philosopher with undisguised reverence and reverence. (“< … >If you listen to them, it turns out that the sky is a simple iron stove, and people are coals in this stove. Whoever gives them money, they will be able to teach everything in the world.< … >”). However, there are those who laugh at Socrates, constantly mock him. (“... Unclean barefoot!

< … >The fool Socrates and his best disciple - the mad Charefont!< … >What do you want, priest of picaresque speeches?< … >”). All this characterizes Socrates as very clever and resourceful, but at the same time, putting on a mask of good-natured and reasonable person. However, speaking about the image of this philosopher, and especially about the image drawn in the comedy of Aristophanes "Clouds", it would be strange if this image is not considered through the peculiarities of vocabulary, conversations, and also through a special author's position. Speaking of this comedy, very characteristic features that are unique to the comedies of Aristophanes immediately catch the eye. First of all, it is a special colloquial form of writing a comedy that brings the author closer to the common people. This can be seen on the example of various short statements, curses, which are exchanged by the characters of "Clouds" throughout the entire comedy. Using various colloquial elements, Aristophanes, thereby, tries to oppose Socrates and ordinary students in this comedy. In addition to these techniques, the comedian also uses the techniques of the grotesque, hyperbole, and various metaphors, which allows him to show Socrates in a comical way. Readers immediately feel it, but gladly play along and take part in this comedy. They try to imitate the same manner of talking, moving, sitting, etc., that is, they copy the image of Socrates from Aristophanes in everything. (“< … >The great sage was swinging high above in a hammock< … > .

What do you, dust son?!

< … >I think about the fate of the luminaries, soaring in space.< … >Thought is powerless unless it floats in the air. If I had stood on the ground, I would not have seen anything. Earthly force attracts the moisture of thoughts, like cabbage.< … >”). All this suggests that Socrates enjoys great influence over other people. He really, as it were, hovers over the world of the inhabitants, laughs at their miserable passions and sufferings, while being out of reach for them. But here one can involuntarily feel the author's hidden, if not admiration, then at least respect for the personality and teachings of Socrates, despite attempts to portray him in a comical and obscene form.

However, before I finish talking about the image of Socrates in the comedy "Clouds", I would like to dwell on some more aspects in this work of Aristophanes. Reading this comedy, it is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that in the "Clouds" there is constantly present, at first implicitly, and then openly, the struggle of Falsehood and Truth, right and false. So what is the role of Socrates in this struggle, and what does Aristophanes think about this?

If we consider the position of the comedian, it turns out that the thinker is almost a preacher of Krivda, he teaches only evil, lies and violence. Let us recall, for example, the episode of the return of Pheidippides home. Not only did he begin to beat his father, he also proves this right. (“< …. >- And what, I have no right now to wish good to my father? Of course, you will say that only babies can be beaten, but isn't the old man doubly a child? Deserves, therefore, not a simple, but a double punishment!< … >”). But now let's see how Socrates himself behaves when he is asked to teach his son Strepsiades two speeches - crooked and truthful. When Pheidippides comes, the thinker first gives him the right to choose, showing the Truth and Falsehood, and only then agrees to teach him, thereby he himself shows his nobility and high morality. He behaves in exactly the same way as Satan in M. Bulgakov's work "The Master and Margarita", first providing a choice, and then punishing for this choice. From the very beginning, readers see Socrates as a strong personality, a kind of evil genius, despite Aristophanes' attempts to portray him in a completely ridiculous way. And this is where the question arises, was the comedian himself an adherent of sophistical wisdom, did he not support those false and in many ways immoral principles that Krivda proudly speaks of in a dispute with the Truth? (“< … >Where is it seen that modesty helped someone become strong and powerful? The wife of Thetis ran away from the modest hero Peleus, because there was a goof! And he didn’t know how to play with his wife on a dark night ...< … >After all, a woman is impudent at heart! And how many joys have you lost because of modesty: roast, boys, sweets, wine, women ... And without this, why live in the world? Or, let's say, you seduced someone else's wife and got caught by your husband... That's it! You're dead if you can't speak! And if you go with me, play, kiss, fornicate! Follow nature! And be calm, because if they find you with someone else's wife in bed, you will answer that you have done nothing wrong. You will refer to Zeus, who also did not shy away from women. But how can you, an earthly being, be stronger than a god?< … >”). If we consider these dialogues, it becomes obvious with what contempt Aristophanes treats the Truth, its attitudes and values, what epithets and expressions he uses for this (to be honest, “baths for men are poison”, not feeling a dirty trick, said sadly and etc.), and in what bright colors he describes Krivda. Socrates himself in this case takes the position of an observer rather than a participant in this dispute, he prefers, as a judge, to first listen to the opinions of one side and the other, and then pass his verdict - “guilty or not guilty”. But it was precisely this observant, or rather contemplative, position that Aristophanes subtly noted in his famous comedy Clouds. In my opinion, the opposition of Falsehood and Truth is for Aristophanes another way to draw a certain image of Socrates, to show his moral, philosophical and spiritual aspirations and quests, to reflect his position in relation to various phenomena of life. Although the image of the philosopher drawn by the comedian is largely far from reality, nevertheless, thanks to the work of Aristophanes, we can imagine and understand at least a little the personality of this great sage.

Of course, one can have a different attitude towards this thinker, one can scold and despise, or one can honor and bow, but we must not forget about the huge influence of this philosopher on the entire subsequent culture. Concluding the conversation about the image of Socrates depicted in Aristophanes' comedy "Clouds", it should be said once again that this is only one of many points of view on the personality and teachings of the famous sage. And if the comedian saw Socrates as a parody of the sophists, ridiculed everything connected with this philosopher, as well as the followers of the thinker, then it should be remembered that a lot of what Aristophanes spoke about was later refuted. So, for example, Socrates believed that knowledge is a thought that expresses the concept of the general. But the sophists stood on the position that everything can be taught without bothering with knowledge and various teachings. In addition, in contrast to the sophists, Socrates believed that the knowledge received by a person in a finished form is less valuable than the knowledge that is the product of one’s own thinking, the teacher’s task is precisely to help his students independently come to that knowledge, already present in humans.

Finishing the study of the image of the great thinker Socrates, which was portrayed in his comedy "Clouds" by the comedian Aristophanes, I would like to generalize and draw conclusions from all of the above about the author and his work.

In this comedy, all the ideological and stylistic features of Aristophanes' work are evident. The sympathies of the author and the viewer, of course, are entirely on the side of the peasant Strepsiades, and all the urban upbringing, which Aristophanes identifies with sophistry, is ridiculed and parodied evilly, not sparing even Socrates, who was an opponent of the sophists, but at the same time also taught new wisdom. Instead of characters in Clouds, generalized ideas are given, but their blatant hyperbole [ 1 ] makes the comedy colorful and fun. Since instead of the previous anthropomorphic [ 3 ] deities, Greek natural philosophy [ 2 ] preached the material elements, they are presented here in the form of clouds, and these clouds are depicted in such attractive colors that one might think that Aristophanes himself does not believe in these new deities.? On the other hand, they are just the conductors of sophistry. Before Pheidippides enters the thought-room, a whole agon [ 4 ] is a parodic rivalry between Krivda and Pravda and the victory of Krivda. There is also a second agon - a quarrel between Strepsiades and Pheidippides, again a parody of the new system of education. Almost all comedy consists of quarrels, disputes and scolding, behind which the author himself, the deepest opponent of urban enlightenment, seems to be hiding. Socrates in this work is shown as a teacher of false wisdom, a two-faced, cunning, greedy and greedy person who is only able to deceive and seduce other people.

Socrates is an ancient Greek thinker, a philosopher with innovative views. He changed the vector of studying nature, paying attention primarily to man. Natural phenomena and everything that surrounds people does not matter as long as a person does not know himself. The philosophy of Socrates explores the nature of man, and its object is the personality.

Socrates: biography of the philosopher

The first thinker who looked for answers in his own head was born in Athens, around 470 BC. Since then, a lot of water has flowed. No wonder some people don't know who Socrates is. Our informative article will briefly tell about the fate of the philosopher.

The future genius was born in the family of the mason Sophronix and the midwife Fenareta. Socrates grew up in the family not alone, but with his older brother, Patroclus. Parents made sure that the children received a decent education by those standards. So, the future philosopher knew the alphabet and knew how to write, read the modern philosophical works of Anaxagoras and went to lectures.

Socrates showed interest in the culture of the body and military affairs. He kept fit, received combat skills and learned to use weapons. The head of the family considered that a military career for the youngest son would be a prestigious occupation. So the thinker ended up in the ranks of the foot soldiers (hoplites), where he repeatedly showed courage and courage.

Service in the army did not discourage the desire to study. Socrates was equally proficient with both the spear and the word, which was quickly learned in Athens. In the intervals between service and wars, the philosopher often returned home to the city. The youth of that time loved to listen to his reflections on the personality of a person. However, not everyone liked the new philosophy.

The Sophists and Socrates were cruelly ridiculed in Aristophanes' play Clouds. In it, the thinker himself is depicted as a rogue and idle talker. His worn clothes and dirty, bare heels did not fit in with the teachings that the philosopher propagated. As a result, we got a bright character of a shoemaker without boots, moreover, demanding a lot of money for his “imaginary” knowledge.

Socrates, whose years of life were spent in Athens, was disappointed by the performance. Being at one of the productions of "Clouds", the philosopher went up on stage and addressed the audience, offering to compare the image with himself. The thinker was a master of the art of rhetoric and could always surprise his listeners. It remained only to have time to write down his smart thoughts.

Socrates was married twice and raised sons after his second marriage. He was surrounded by outstanding people who played a big role in history. Socrates sowed a seed of doubt in their heads: is this really the case, as politicians present it to them? Own opinion in ancient Greece since childhood was not honored.

Reflections in the form of answers to one's own questions seem to be an idle exercise, this way of knowing was called "Socratic paradoxes." We know well how Socrates died. He died through the fault of his life principles - not to have any principles. Even when he could save himself at trial by paying a fine, the philosopher accepted the execution as inevitable.

The biography of Socrates has come down to us in the form of records of his famous students - Plato and Xenophon. However, even in their views there is a significant difference:

Xenophon assures that Socrates was a supporter of harsh measures. Violence should beget more violence and nothing else.
Plato assures that the philosopher strove for world peace. Evil should not become a disease and infect everyone it gets.

In this regard, the school of Socrates was divided into two currents - aggressive and pacifist. It is easy to explain such an abyss in the views of one person, knowing his biography. Judge for yourself:

With the commander Xenophon, Socrates fought on the battlefield, shed blood and saw the horrors of war. Of course, in such circumstances it is stupid and dangerous to talk about humanism.
The philosopher had conversations with Plato in peaceful Athens over a glass of red wine. Socrates could afford to be restrained and generous. He remembered him as kind and considerate.

The writings of Socrates have been preserved mainly through the notes of his students. He himself took little writing materials and preferred oral speech. The idea of his teaching was to know oneself and search for answers not in the surrounding world, but in the mind. He had no time to deal with appearance and wardrobe: he walked in rags on his naked body, without shoes and jewelry.

The overall picture of an untidy, powerful bum with bright thoughts and delivered speech was very surprising. Socrates considered the main evil not poverty, but ignorance. The philosopher did not hammer hackneyed facts into the heads of listeners, but wanted to teach them to think independently. In deep thought, he could stand in one place for a whole day and not budge.

The trial of Socrates was held precisely because of his free-thinking. The established principles of the society of Ancient Greece were threatened by the new teachings of the philosopher. If the rulers lost control over the people, then the fate of the state would be in jeopardy. The bold statements of the philosopher about the ancient gods gave rise to a lawsuit.

Socrates was accused of "corrupting youth (youth) and blasphemy". In those days, family customs said that young men should obey their fathers in everything. When the philosopher gave his lectures to everyone, young people eagerly listened to his reasoning. To some extent, Socrates was a nihilist of those years and violated the laws of Athens.

During the trial, Socrates defended his rights himself without a lawyer. There are two works describing the trial of a philosopher:

"Protection of Socrates in court" (author - Xenophon).
"Apology of Socrates" (author - Plato).

They describe in detail the court and the behavior of the thinker on it. The works also describe the defensive speech of the defendant. Socrates was sentenced to death by taking poison. Thus died the great thinker of antiquity.

Socrates: quotes about the meaning of life

Statements about the life of the philosopher were carefully recorded by his students and have survived to this day. Even after many years they do not seem outdated.

Socrates raised questions that will trouble people forever. There is no person who has never thought about the meaning of life. Science still does not know how to correctly answer this question. If you answer from the point of view of biology, then we are born to continue our race. However, unlike animals, we are given a developed brain to understand our existence.

Life came from outer space, where it will eventually be transferred. Socrates believed that earthly life not the only one, but, unlike the accepted version of the gods, indicated the existence Higher Power. He was not afraid to die, and indeed believed that death is a liberation from earthly shackles. He accepted the execution with a smile on his face and calmly waited for the end.

Socrates, whose quotes can be found in huge numbers on the Internet, never wrote them down himself. He had no time to take notes during the flow of thoughts. He is credited with outstanding ability to think logically. He could question everything, always looking for the second bottom and what hides from a superficial glance.

Let's list the most famous sayings philosopher:

All I know is that I don't know anything, but others don't know that either.

Only good is knowledge, and only evil is ignorance.

Only stupid people look for meaning in everything.

The highest wisdom is to distinguish between good and evil.

People demand freedom of speech in exchange for freedom of thought, which they don't have.

Life without trials is not life.

Who wants, he is looking for opportunities, who does not want - looking for excuses.

I eat to live, others live to eat.

Wisdom is the realization of how little we know.

Drunkenness does not give rise to vices, it reveals them.

It is surprising that the philosopher was accused of a bad influence on young people. Judge for yourself how Socrates put it on the question of fathers and children:

Our young people love luxury, are badly brought up and do not respect the elderly. Today's children have become tyrants! Simply put, they are very bad.

Socrates lived a long life and left behind a significant mark in history. His philosophical ideas still inspire young people to new discoveries. Try to delve into yourself and find your meaning in life.

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