The Sophists weren’t just debaters but educators. They guided their clients in rhetoric arguments as well as ethics. They coined the term – arete – which could mean excellence and also carries a notion of self-actualization – reaching one’s true potential. The ideology behind arete acted as the cornerstone for how philosophers defined a good life. Socrates elaborated on this by stating that to live a good life we must fully have grasped what arete is, and hence lead to a conclusion that knowledge is a virtue (which was synonymous with a good life in Greek philosophy at that time). He expressed that knowledge is essential for virtue and virtue is indispensable for a good life. He concluded his these with a paradox saying ‘no one desires evil’ – and because virtue is knowledge, humans can only do wrong in the face of ignorance.
Introduction
How do we really define Philosophy? The Greek word φιλοσοφία – Philosophia. Or as the term has been coined by modern Western language – Philosophy. The literal meaning of this word is relatively static. Derived from its Greek origin it comprises two separate words...
