Introduction
Although the nature and origin of the universe seem complicated, the ancient philosophers combined their knowledge in various fields to describe it. Arts, science, logic, and ethics helped the ancient philosophers agree and disagree on various phenomena, developing concepts that people know today. Therefore, the vast knowledge of arts, science, and ethics, among other fields, was significantly influenced by the ancient thinkers. P
lato and Socrates are some of the ancient thinkers whose thinking and revelations have transformed contemporary society. Given their different backgrounds and thinking premises, the two philosophers exhibited differences. However, they agreed on some phenomena, building up on each other’s works. Therefore, the diverse thinking and agreements between Socrates and Plato emulate their wit in solving puzzles of the universe.
Differences Between Plato and Socrates
Life Patterns
Plato was one of the Greek philosophers who existed during the classical period in Ancient Greece. It is believed that Plato was born in 428 or 427 BCE in Athens, Greece. His family was aristocratic, with his father’s side being derived from the god Poseidon (Wyse). Meanwhile, Plato’s mother is related to Solon, the lawgiver. The philosopher spent his childhood around Socrates, who significantly influenced his philosophical thoughts. As an important connection between other great philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato remains a significant figure in Ancient Greek Philosophy (Bejan 332). Upon gaining knowledge from the teachings of Socrates, he shared the same with his student, Aristotle.
Unlike Plato, Socrates was old and is believed to have been born around 470 BC. Socrates was a crucial figure in the growth and philosophical thinking of Plato, who was his student. Socrates’ father, Sophroniscus, was a stoneworker, while his mother, Phaenarete, was a midwife (GCT). The philosopher, unlike Plato, was purely Athenian since he was born to relatively affluent Athenians. Unlike many Athenians, Socrates inherited wealth from his father, living a life free from economic hardships. Plato described Socrates as a man who completed military service during the Peloponnesian War (Clark 100-102). Therefore, Socrates is depicted as an individual who had great respect for the law and would do anything to avoid crime.
Publications of Philosophical Works
Although Socrates influenced the majority of philosophical works, he never published any. Therefore, everything about Socrates was told either by his students or those who were around him during the classical period (Zargar para.4). Socrates proffered dialogue to writing since he believed that writing was an inferior method of inquiry. Some of the ancient sources that describe Socratic works include Aristophanes’ comedy “The Clouds.” The comedy was written in 423 BCE when Socrates was about forty-seven years old. The comedy displays Socrates as an intellect who runs a science school and makes money by teaching the students. Socrates’ choice not to write but to transmit knowledge through face-to-face communication was important to Greco-Roman history since it inspired a lifelong teaching technique (Stigall). Moreover, contemporary educational institutions prefer face-to-face teaching.
Plato has had a different approach to his philosophical works since he wrote them. Some of his notable writings are “The Republic,” “Allegory of the Cave,” “Apology,” and “Phaedrus,” among others. Unlike Socrates, Plato believed that images have the power to promote political reform. Therefore, writing was one of the best methods to cause political change (Zargar para.7). His writings, such as The Republic, describe various scenarios during his lifetime. The book brings ancient events into reality. Other philosophers, such as Aristophanes, emulated Plato’s approach to writing (Clark 99). Putting his work in writing, Plato remained a significant figure in Greco-Roman history since his written works could serve many generations even after his death. Moreover, the works reduced public doubt about his philosophical thinking.
Philosophical Thoughts
Socrates and Plato exhibited differences in their philosophical thoughts. Socrates believed that every man must strive to discover the truth for happiness and virtue (Zargar para.5). Meanwhile, Plato contended the thinking by arguing that the truth is only preserved for the intellectually higher class. Many people agree with Plato’s argument since whatever is presented as the truth is a result of judgments from a few individuals (Stigall). For intake, the accused people are obliged to abide by the truth as determined by the judge or jury. The argument of determining what should be considered the truth was significant in the Greco-Roman period since the criminal justice systems adopted Plato’s argument.
Additionally, Plato and Socrates had different approaches to their teaching. While Socrates primarily based his teachings on ethics and epistemology, Plato was concerned with myriad disciplines, including education, literature, rhetoric, and arts, among others. Socrates’ epistemological approaches led to the development of various moral notions during the Greco-Roman period. Human dignity, among other ethical concerns, is linked to Socrates (Zargar para.2).
Similar works in ethics are manifested by Emmanuel Kant, who took ethics a notch higher to respecting animals. Meanwhile, Plato focused on disciplines that define the economic and social image of society. The “Allegory of the Cave” gives a true picture of human suffering and encourages social cohesion among human beings. Plato’s work has encouraged similar artistic works, such as the 2014 movie The Lego (Varul 730). Therefore, the two philosophers influenced life in various ways.
Similarities
Although Socrates and Plato exhibit differences based on their approach to teaching and philosophical thoughts, they exhibit some similarities. The obvious similarity is that the two philosophers were born in Athens and played a significant role in Ancient Greek philosophy. Additionally, Plato and Socrates were great believers in epistemology. While Socrates linked epistemology with the individual’s responsibility to society, Plato linked epistemology with the political class. The philosophers postulated that every human being deserves dignity, which is inherent, and none can alter that right.
Furthermore, the two philosophers observed the art of persuasive speaking and teaching. Amazingly, Socrates never wrote his works, but they can be remembered and are still applied to date. Meanwhile, Plato’s persuasiveness is evident in his works, such as “The Republic” (Varul 739). Therefore, the similarities and agreements between Plato and Socrates helped build better societies.
Conclusion
Philosophy is important to society since it shapes how people think and how institutions make decisions. The Ancient Greek philosophers are the major contributors to contemporary education and factors that unite society. The two philosophers lived different lives, had different philosophical approaches, and believed in the transfer of knowledge.
Socrates never wrote his works since he believed that writing was an inappropriate method of teaching someone. Meanwhile, Plato believed in the power of an image to bring social change. The two philosophers believed in epistemology and ethical behaviors within societies. The differences and similarities between Socrates and Plato shaped the universe in different ways.
Works Cited
Bejan, Teresa M. “Plato and the Mythic Tradition in Political Thought, by Tae-Yeoun Keum.” Mind, 2021.
Clark, Justin C. “Socratic Inquiry and the Aporetic Endings.” Plato’s Dialogues of Definition, 2022, pp. 99–114.
GCT. Spotlight on Socrates, the Founding Figure of Western Philosophy. 2021.
Stigall, Regan. “The Rhetoric of Psychopathology: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding and Talking about Mental Health.” Baylor University, 2021.
Varul, Matthias Zick. “The Cultural Tragedy of Production and the Expropriation of the Brickolariat: The Lego Movie as Consumer-Capitalist Myth.” European Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 21, no. 6, 2017, pp. 724–743.
Wyse, Elizabeth. A History of the Classical World: The Story of Ancient Greece and Rome. Arcturus Publishing, 2022.
Zargar, Dr Nazir Ahmad. “[Renaissance, Science and God: Paradox of Modern Western Education—VI] Influence of Philosophy on Modern Western Mind.” Greater Kashmir. Web.