DAY 172 - HAPPINESS ACCORDING TO SOCRATES

Day 172

Socrates was born in 469 BC and died in 399 BC. Being the son of a sculptor, Socrates spent half of his life following his father's footsteps, before finally deciding to devote his life to philosophy. Socrates did not write any philosophical books himself. It is the works of his disciples, mainly Plato and Xenophon, that has given us a historical account of his philosophy. Socrates died poisoned, after being accused of both corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens and of not believing in the gods of the state.

Socrates believed that every choice we make in life is dictated by our desire to be happy and that this quest for happiness is shared by all human beings. Socrates divided humanity in three group: people who sought happiness through pleasure, those who found happiness in fame, honour and social status and finally, those who looked for happiness in knowledge and wisdom.

Socrates thought that this last group was more likely to achieve happiness, since he believed that, "an unexamined life is not worth living" and that knowledge and wisdom provide means to examine and analyze your life.

For Socrates, ultimate happiness was therefore found through self-knowledge and by applying this knowledge in order to better the soul. And how would someone aim at perfecting his or her soul? Like many other Greek Philosophers (i.e. Aristotle, Epicurus), Socrates believed you had to be virtuous.

For him, virtue is both necessary and sufficient for happiness. Even though we may feel happy when we acquire things, when we achieve success or when we attend fun events, true happiness comes from virtue. Because if you strip someone of his or her possessions, all that is left is the soul.  And if the soul is evil, then there cannot be happiness.

Socrates believed that if you cultivate the ‘four cardinal virtues’ (courage, wisdom, justice and self-control) throughout your entire life—though you achieve nothing else—you will have lived a truly excellent life.

"The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less."

"Be as you wish to seem"

Socrates