Socrates, a Greek of the early second century BC who lived in Athens, was unique among the Greeks. He is one of few philosophers who contributed to the philosophy of his time and to Athens in general. Unlike many other philosophers, however, Socrates’ most important work was the Dialog. The Dialog was a dialogue that Socrates conducted with his fellow citizens, most of whom were admirers of Socrates and sought after his wisdom and his teachings. This article surveys some of the key discussions and exchanges in the Dialog, which introduced one of the basic foundations of Western political philosophy and provided the model for much of the later classical intellectual tradition.
In the opening paragraph, Socrates contends that there is no single definition of virtue. Rather, there are several. For example, one may say that virtue is the perfection of social or civic life. Another might say that virtue is justice or fairness, and yet another might define virtue as purity and reputation. Socrates counters that virtue and morality are two different things and that virtue is related to the good and the true and the goal of any intelligent being is the attainment of the good and true.
Socrates follows up this discussion by claiming that we can be good at everything if we devote ourselves to the pursuit of virtue. According to Socrates, virtue is the ultimate human good because it is the road to happiness. If we follow virtue, then “everything is good.” Accordingly, we do not need to be concerned about others’ opinions of us because we will attain the same kind of happiness.
The next topic is the idea that virtue is related to eudaimonia, which means happiness or pleasure. According to Socrates, there is a connection between virtue and eudaimonia. Eudaimonia is defined as pleasure and joy. According to Socrates, the pursuit of virtue brings about eudaimonia. Therefore, happiness is a part of eudaimonia.
Socrates thinks that virtue is not merely ethical or moral virtue but also natural virtue. When a person is in tune with his body and understands its natural instincts, he will derive pleasure from his actions and the pursuit of virtue. Natural virtue is therefore related to justice, which is what Socrates defines as the supreme good.
When it comes to the pursuit of practical virtue, we find that Socrates discusses three types of practical wisdom: aesthetic, logical, and pragmatic. He says that the practical virtues guide us in life. In addition, he also says that these practical virtues are the necessary means of attaining happiness. The pursuit of such virtues brings about eudaimonia and therefore happiness. However, a person must understand that he must act wisely or he will fail to achieve his goals in life.
We find that Socrates discusses three key components in relation to the pursuit of virtue: intelligence, skill, and character. Intelligence refers to the ability to solve problems. Skill refers to the ability to apply one’s knowledge. But most importantly, character refers to one’s purpose in life–what one’s been called “the purpose of life”. As the result of these three elements combined, a person can pursue a virtue or pursue an aristocratic ideal. A just and virtuous life needs to be achieved through virtue.
For example, to attain true eudaimonia, which is the highest virtue, we need to have the appropriate mental aptitude for philosophical discussion. We need to be able to discern the genuine philosophers from the wannabees. We also need to know how to properly apply our acquired knowledge in everyday human life. Socrates sums up his arguments in a well-known saying: “There is nothing more common than virtue.” Indeed, I hope this introduction to the ultimate human good has been of help to you as you contemplate how to lead a just and virtuous life.