Philosopher Socrates believed that true wisdom begins with understanding the self.
He believed that “the self” is not just the physical body, but more importantly, the soul and the mind.
He taught that true knowledge and wisdom come from understanding oneself, which means knowing your “own” thoughts, beliefs, and values.
His famous quote, “Know thyself,” emphasizes that self-awareness is one of the keys to a peaceful and virtuous life. By observing and examining our inner selves, we can understand of right and wrong.
But why should we delve into the wisdom of this classical thinker? The answer lies in our quest to understand ourselves.
In today’s fast-paced world, his approach offers a timeless way to understand ourselves better and live more meaningful lives.
In this blog, we delve into the life of Socrates to better understand him, and most importantly, “ourselves.”
Socrates in understanding the self laid emphasize on the Socratic method.
The method of learning about ourselves advocated by Socrates, known as the Socratic Method involves asking open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking, draw out any underlying assumptions, and arrive at a more profound understanding of complex life issues.
Rather than simply providing answers, the Socratic Method leads people to discover the truth themselves through guided questioning, making the learning process more active and engaging:
To implement the Socratic Method by yourself, start by choosing “the right” topic you want to explore. Then, ask yourself open-ended questions that challenge your assumptions and encourage deeper thinking.
For example, if you’re considering a career change, you might ask, “Why am I drawn to this new career? What are the potential risks and rewards?”
As you answer, continue questioning your responses to uncover underlying motives, potential contradictions, or overlooked factors. This process helps clarify your thoughts and leads to more informed decisions.
Socrates believed that true wisdom begins with self-knowledge. He argued that without self-awareness, people are likely to act based on ignorance or false beliefs, leading to poor decisions and unhappiness.
By constantly examining one’s inner life, individuals can align their actions with true values, beliefs, and thoughts.
Ecares: 5 Philosophical Similarities between Plato and Socrates
It means that understanding yourself—your strengths, weaknesses, and emotions—is the first step to wisdom.
When you are aware of your own nature, you can make better decisions and improve yourself.
Reading Tip:
Think about moments in your life when you learned something new about yourself. Write these down and see how they changed your behavior.
To practice the method of learning about ourselves advocated by Socrates, start by:
A therapist helps a patient with anxiety by asking:
– “What proof do you have that everyone judges you?“
– “Could there be another way to see this situation?“
Result: The patient feels less anxious after 8 sessions after reframing of his mindset.
Socrates’ profound statement, “An unexamined life is not worth living,” urges us to reflect on our actions and values. Without introspection, life lacks purpose and meaning.
“Self-Examination resonates with me as I constantly strive to make conscious choices and align my actions with my values. It is a difficult process as I have no choice left but to face the “extra stress” or “feel anxious” to find myself. If I want to become an exceptional individual, I must suffer happily.”
– Author of Ecares.
It means look inside yourself and understand your thoughts and feelings.
It means you are responsible for knowing what makes you happy, sad, or angry.
Example: Instead of saying, “My day was bad,” you might ask, “What part of my day made me feel that way?” and then learn from it.
Here are 10 questions you can use:
1. What am I really feeling right now?
2. Why do I feel this way?
3. What evidence supports this feeling?
4. What evidence contradicts this feeling?
5. Is there another way to view this situation?
6. How have I handled similar situations before?
7. What can I learn from this experience?
8. Is my reaction based on assumptions?
9. How might someone else see this situation?
10. What changes can I make to improve my response?
Socrates advised, “Devote your time to learning from the writings of others, and you shall effortlessly gain what they have diligently toiled for.“
By studying the works of great thinkers, we can gain knowledge and wisdom that would otherwise take a lifetime to develop on our own. By engaging with the ideas of others, we expand our understanding and can apply this wisdom to our own lives.
“I like the idea of not knowing everything. It helps to empty my mind from all the unnecessary distractions and fill in all the beneficial knowledge lying before me. Certain people’s struggles resonate with me, and by paying attention to what they have to offer, it is most probable I learn more about myself and people.“
– Author of Ecares.
Ecares: Overthining Journal: How to Self-Reflect?
| Philosopher | Key Idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Socrates | Know thyself; use questioning to uncover truth | Ask yourself why you feel upset and learn from it. |
| Nietzsche | Embrace struggle as a way to grow stronger. | Turn hardships into opportunities for self-improvement. |
Socrates believed “the self” is not just the physical body but primarily the soul and mind. He emphasized that true wisdom comes from understanding your thoughts, beliefs, and values through self-awareness, as captured in his famous phrase: “Know thyself.”
The Socratic Method uses open-ended questions to challenge assumptions and encourage critical thinking. It involves four steps: questioning, exploration, reflection, and conclusion, helping individuals uncover deeper truths through guided inquiry.
Start by asking open-ended questions about a topic (e.g., “Why do I feel angry?”). Break down your responses, challenge assumptions, seek evidence, and reflect on insights. For example: “Is it true people try to upset me?” or “What happened last time I felt this way?”
Self-awareness helps align actions with core values and reduces decisions based on ignorance. For instance, instead of labeling a day as “bad,” ask: “What specific event caused this feeling?” This fosters intentional living in our fast-paced world.
Therapists use it to challenge negative thoughts. For example, asking anxiety patients: “What proof do you have that everyone judges you?” or “Could there be another perspective?” This helps reframe mindsets over time.
Try these 10 daily questions: 1) What am I feeling? 2) Why do I feel this way? 3) What evidence supports/contradicts this feeling? 4) Is there another perspective? 5) How have I handled similar situations? 6) What can I learn? 7) Is my reaction assumption-based? 8) How might others view this? 9) What changes improve my response?
Socrates focused on self-knowledge through questioning (e.g., “Why am I upset?”), while Nietzsche emphasized embracing struggle (e.g., using hardships as growth opportunities). Their approaches complement introspection and resilience.
He argued that introspection gives life purpose and meaning. Without examining values and actions, people risk living passively or based on false beliefs, leading to poor decisions and dissatisfaction.
Study works by great thinkers to gain insights faster. As Socrates said: “Devote time to learning from others’ writings to effortlessly gain what they toiled for.” This expands perspectives and applicable knowledge.
Key references include Plato’s dialogues (“The Apology,” “Phaedo”), Aristotle’s ethics, modern philosophy textbooks, scholarly articles on the Socratic Method, and analyses by contemporary philosophers.
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