Man himself is the model for determining appropriate values depending on circumstances. The sophists recognized the power of the word and called it "logos". Here the word (logos) has powerful effects to control human emotions such as anguish, joy, fear etc., that's why they taught how to prosecute people with the power of the word (logos). The sophists considered logos as virtue (arete). Logos is the logic behind an argument that seeks to persuade an audience using logical arguments and supporting evidence. It was a method of persuasion used in writing and rhetoric. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Socrates was a great philosopher of Greece. Before Socrates the Greeks were engaged in metaphysical investigations (God, soul, etc.). Socrates had a great impact on the misery of the Peloponnesian War. He had seen the brutality and sabotage of war, so he was eager to determine how best to live life, the merits of morality versus immoral actions despite apparent losses. Socrates tried to establish the answer whether happiness lies in the fulfillment of one's desires or belongs to a virtuous activity of neglecting worldly pleasures. According to Socrates, happiness is the purpose of life and is in the hands of the individual. A person can secure happiness by his own efforts. Socrates' happiness is not understood as physical pleasure, it is a spiritual state of divine inner peace that is unaffected by worldly objects. This state can be achieved by controlling the desires of the body and harmonizing the different parts of the soul. Socrates was concerned with determining two main points: The end (objective) of all people is unconditional happiness (good). Happiness (the end of desire) does not depend on external objects, but rather on how these objects are instrumental to achieving this end or used in order to obtain it. Here external objects concern any quality, physical appearance, body power or money or the things that are always desirable. For example, a wise man will use money correctly and make his life happy, but a foolish and ignorant man will misuse it and end up even worse than before. Likewise, physical beauty and intelligence can be abused in manipulation and misdeeds. Socrates was laboriously engaged in the search for right knowledge and in the eradication of ignorance. Socrates' method of revealing ignorance and gaining knowledge in the process of questioning made him the wisest man of his time. This method of questioning produces self-knowledge. This method dispels prejudices, rumors and faulty logic that produce vanity, presumption and wrong beliefs to preserve personal identity and personal ego. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayAccording to Socrates “an unexamined life is not worth living”. In his method of questioning the fundamental principle is knowing that you know nothing. He says that wisdom gives direction towards happiness. Virtue and happiness are inseparable. The pleasure derived from the pursuit of virtue and knowledge is of a higher quality than that derived from the satisfaction of simple animal desires. According to him, people mistakenly consider pleasure as an end, but rather as an integral part of the exercise of virtue in life. It is a satisfaction and an inner peace to act virtuously.
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