Emily Burch

Andrew Israelsen

Philosophy 1000-003

February 16, 2017

The Philosophical Revolution

Xenophanes, Parmenides, Socrates, and Plato questioned and even challenged the deeply

held views of their times in favor of wisdom, justice, goodness, and truth. At the time of the

philosophical revolution the idea that attaining knowledge could be possible was not one that

many could believe. Knowledge was divine, and humans were not divine. Leaving knowledge

for the gods or divine beings that could change the world on a whim, making knowledge

impossible. Through the efforts of Xenophanes, Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, and many others

the philosophical revolution was brought about.

Xenophanes outright challenged the view that strength was the most valuable attribute

one could possess as well as the existence of the gods. Xenophanes states, now if cattle, horses,

or lions had hands and were able to perform works like men, horses like horses and cattle like

cattle would draw the forms of gods, and make their bodies (Xenophanes fragments lines 20-

23). Xenophanes like many philosophers of the time was well traveled and had noticed that the

gods of different societies looked like the people of the societies that created them. Xenophanes

believed that there must be one god greater than all the others.

Xenophanes viewed god as an omnipotent being. He however disagreed that knowledge

would be impossible and sought to show the value of wisdom to others, and through wisdom

goodness. In Xenophanes view gods explained the world, but through seeking wisdom man
could find better explanations for the world around them. He believed that all things are

thinkable, and that what is not is unconceivable. Xenophanes work was picked up by one of his

students Parmenides who sought to improve upon the work of his teacher further describing the

world.

Parmenides sought to build upon the work of others who he felt did not adequately

describe the process by which one thing becomes many things. Like Xenophanes, Parmenides

reasoned that what is, is and what is not is equivalent to not being. But how can what-is-be

hereafter? How can it come to be? For if it came to be, it is not, not even if it is sometime going

to be (Parmenides of Ela pg. 60). Parmenides is trying to say what is, is being, it is

imperishable; it does not come into being or vanish into nothingness. Nothing does not name

anything one thing, it is impossible to think of nothing as it is unintelligible. (Soccio pg. 66-68)

In his attempts to unify and explain the world Parmenides produced the theory all is all.

He further explained that all is one of a single whole. Parmenides believed that our minds are

not capable of comprehending reality, that the world we experience is a world of illusion. Being

is complete and whole, but our senses are only capable of experiencing becoming. This

explanation worked through his deductions that what we sense is the world of becoming, but

sacrificed the world to do so. (Soccio pg. 66-68)

Socrates like Xenophanes and Parmenides believed that there is an ultimate reality,

making knowledge possible; he just didnt think he knew anything. Socrates sought to find the

truth of beauty, virtue, morality, and justice. He held the belief that through knowledge one can

improve their character. In his search for the truth he would question others who were thought to

be wise hoping that they might share their wisdom with him. He found that those others thought

so wise were not. One of Socrates students Plato wrote from the perspective of Socrates, I am
better off than he is-for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows: I neither know nor think

that I know. In this,then, I seem to have slightly the advantage of him (Soccio pg. 111-112).

He knew that he knew nothing and his socratic ignorance made him wiser than men who claimed

knowledge they did not have. Through his questioning of others knowledge and dissecting their

arguments Socrates made many enemies.

Eventually Socrates enemies were able to bring him to trial. The charges against Socrates

were that he had corrupted the youth of Athens and invented false gods. Socrates pointed out

that he was not well liked for questioning others knowledge and made his defense. He stated that

he did not disagree in the existence of the gods, the reason for his questioning others knowledge

was in service of a mission given to him by a goddess. In another of Platos works from the

perspective of Socrates he states, And if you have heard from anyone that I undertake to teach

people and charge a fee for it, that is not true either (Platos apology pg. 24). If he was not paid

to teach anyone then their following him around and learning from him was of their own will.

Socrates was convicted guilty, and sentenced to death when he refused exile from his city.

According to Socrates beliefs he had to stay and accept death having agreed to his

sentence. Plato writes from Socrates perspective speaking as if he were Athens, For consider

what good you will do yourself or your friends by breaking our agreements and committing such

a wrong (Platos Crito pg. 56)? Socrates believed that he would hurt his soul and his family as

well as his friends by escaping. He brought up the argument that it would not be fair of him to

make his family beg for his life or have his friends break him out of jail as was the custom. The

custom of the time was that ones friends would break them out of jail and help then flee, and

being a citizen, the government of Athens would have looked the other way as long as Socrates

did not return.

 Socrates viewed Athens as a parent or master and reasoned that it was never right for one

to challenge their master even when wronged. If he avoided his sentence he would undermine

Athens laws and would leave the city in a poor state for his children. He wanted to lead by

example which is why when his student Plato, and other friends of his came to break him out he

refused (Platos Crito pg. 45).

Socrates death was very hard on Plato. Not only was Socrates his teacher, but a dear

friend. After Socrates death Plato left Athens and set up the first school of philosophy when he

was about 40 years old, having come to the conclusion that philosophy could not be practiced

under the constraints of society. Platos mission was to avenge Socrates not through political

action, but through philosophy. (Soccio pg. 130)

In Platos Allegory of the Cave he depicts the injustice against Socrates, and if any one

tried to free them and lead him into the light, they would put him to death if they could catch him

(Soccio pg. 146). Plato is referring to the sophists who put Socrates to death. He depicts a

scenario in which Socrates as the wise man ascends to the realm of enlightenment and returns to

those in the realm of illusion in order to share his wisdom, and how the mob puts him to death

for challenging their beliefs.

Plato did not think that an elite ruling class or a democracy would be capable of creating

a just society, which is why he proposed the Philosophers Republic. In Platos ideal society

philosophers are the ruling class of a society. The Philosopher Kings would be raised and trained

to guide a society to goodness (Soccio pg. 149). He believed that a democracy leads to a society

swayed by opinion, sophists, rather than knowledge.

Plato wanted to prove that the sophists view of might makes right wrong, and so he

proposed forms. Forms are ideas, but not in the way we think of ideas today. To Plato forms are
more real than objects you can see and touch. A red flower will wilt and die, but redness will

stay. Redness is a form, like justice, beauty, goodness, and love. We all have a sense of justice

and beauty.

Plato sought to prove through forms that there is truth, and that truth and knowledge will

lead to goodness, which will in turn lead to moral people and a good society. Good in the form

or true happiness, not feeling happy, but really being happy. According to Socrates and Plato,

one can do wrong and feel happy, but to truly be happy one must be good.

Xenophanes, Parmenides, Socrates, and Plato all believed in an ultimate reality, and its

ability to make us better as individuals as well as, as a society. Through their efforts to gain

knowledge and become better people we as a modern society have benefited. Their ideas of

morality, goodness, society, and actions have taught us to ask questions, and to challenge

preconceptions. Their efforts have taught us that we do not need gods to understand the world

around us, and that we can find explanation in time if we look.

 Works Cited Page

Parmenides of Ela pg. 60

Platos apology pg. 24

Platos Crito pg. 45

Platos Crito pg. 56

Soccio, Douglas J. Archetypes of wisdom: an introduction to philosophy. 9th ed. No. 1 Canada:

Cenage Learning, 2015. Print.

Xenophanes fragments lines 20-23