Page 11 - GROUP-2-E-Magazine

T H E S O C R A T I C

L E G A C Y - P T . 2

Unfortunately, Socrates left no
writings of his own. But, his best-
known disciple, Plato, wrote at least
24 dialogs providing an account of
the debates that his mentor
had conducted in Athens, but also
adding his own beliefs. In Plato,
Socrates inspired Aristotle (a student
subsequent
of Plato) and
philosophers.

As all that is known about his
philosophy is based on the writing
of others, the Socratic problem or
the Socratic question-
reconstructing the philosophy of the
philosopher in its entirety and
exploring some contradictions in his
second-hand account names an
open question facing scholars today.
It is difficult to make a direct
distinction between the teachings
of Socrates and Plato, for Plato
might at times have included his
own conclusions in his dialogs as a
tribute to his teacher, who had
influenced and guided him so
much. But this does not worry us, for
it is the critical method of Socrates-
to question everything, to avoid
sophistication and to pursue justice
and good life in the search for
wisdom-that is given.