Socrates (470BC - 399BC) was a renowned Greek teacher and recognized as the father of Western Philosophy. Socrates preferred conversational teaching and did not leave any record of his teaching behind. The quotes that we have today are from the writings of his students, principally from Plato and Xenophon. Socrates was accused of failing to recognize the gods of the city and corrupting the youth through his teachings. Plato's Apology states that Socrates took a strong stand at his trial despite his awareness of the potential consequences. He was sentenced to death and freely drank a cup of poisonous hemlock instead of trying to escape with his friends.

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Socrates' views on knowledge and truth have influenced the way many people view learning, he claimed that the examined life is the only one worth living.

"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates)

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Socrates believed of self-education that:
"Wisdom begins in admitting your own ignorance.
Self-knowledge is the ultimate virtue.
People can arrive at the truth through questioning."
Many teachers today will pretend to know more than they actually do. Socrates freely confesses his own inexperience. He believed that recognizing his lack of knowledge, set him apart from other thinkers. He explained, "I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing."

Plato's Apology

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In the Apology, Socrates meets many wise politicians, poets, and artisans. Each time he realizes that he is better off because he is aware of his own ignorance. After visiting with a wise and well-regarded man, Socrates said, “Although I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is, – for he knows nothing and thinks that he knows; I neither know nor think that I know.” By admitting his ignorance, Socrates freed himself to question the status quo and the so-called common sense beliefs of his fellow Athenians.
https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/x/xenophon/x5ap/

The Virtue of Self-knowledge

Socrates did not value worldly status an money but instead he revered knowledge, even when he faced death, he proclaimed:

“While I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practice and teaching of philosophy, exhorting anyone whom I meet and saying to him after my manner: You, my friend – a citizen of the great and mighty Athens – are you not ashamed of heaping up the greatest amount of money and honor, and reputation, and caring so little about wisdom and truth and the greatest improvement of the soul, which you never regard at all?"

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Knowledge

Socrates believed that knowledge was the utmost characteristic, best used to help people improve their lives. Socrates said:

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."
He believed that people made immorally wrong choices because of their lack of knowledge and unless they examined their lives and gained wisdom, people would continue to make mistakes in ignorance.
Socrates believed that knowledge was the ultimate virtue, best used to help people improve their lives. “The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance,” he said. He also believed that people made immoral choices because they did not have knowledge. Unless they examined their lives and gained wisdom, people would continue to make mistakes in ignorance.

Think

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Socratic Method; Truth through Questioning

His greatest contribution to fellow learners is his theory of questioning. To gain true knowledge, Socrates believed "that an issue must be broken into smaller questions. The answers help the thinker recognize contradictions and distil the truth."
He appealed to people to care more about developing their own understanding and knowledge, he believed it would lead to equal goodness and happiness.

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Socrates discussion with another Thinker

“Really, Ischomachus, I am disposed to ask: “Does teaching consist in putting questions?” Indeed, the secret of your system has just this instant dawned on me. I seem to see the principle in which you put your questions. You lead me through the field of my own knowledge, and then by pointing out analogies to what I know, persuade me that I really know some things which hitherto, as I believed, I had no knowledge of.”

Today's Children in Socrates Time!

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Modern World

Many learners are using Socrates Method in more formal settings. The Scientific Method is said to be an ancestor of Socrates' style of questioning. Teachers of Law and Humanities often apply often apply the 'Socrates Method' to help students evaluate their thinking. Many learners rely on Socrates' philosophies. His style of questioning, recognition of ignorance, and belief in the value of knowledge/self-examination still reverberate with many independent thinkers.

Steve Jobs

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Steve Jobs

'Steve Jobs once said that he'd trade all his technology for an afternoon with Socrates. Many learners would do the same.'

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Sources:
https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/philosophy-and-everyday-life
http://selfmadescholar.com/b/2009/06/02/great-thinkers-on-self-education-socrates/
https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/x/xenophon/x5ap/

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