Pericles was a great statesman of his time and reportedly a friend of Socrates. He believed that Athenians were able to do anything better than anyone else.
Ancient Athens, a self-disciplined society, balanced their discipline with the pursuit of intellectual freedom.
Socrates himself pursued intellectual freedom by being an “examiner” of men. He exhibited incredible discipline in all that he did. Unable to be disturbed, he was always calm. If he was ever angry, he never showed it.
“If the criticism is just, I must try to reform myself. If it’s untrue, it doesn’t matter.” – Socrates
He, like many Greeks at the time, pursued Arete, or virtue, in each aspect of their daily lives.
“Man is the measure of all things.” – Protagoras of Abdera
Socrates was such a great example to those around him. Much of what we know today is the result of other people writing about him. He wrote almost nothing.
But he knew that how you do anything is how you do everything. He understood that to think well, you must live well.
“A healthy body is the greatest blessing.” – Socrates
Most importantly, Socrates examined the world around him by asking questions. He sought conclusions by not telling others what to think. He was most known for helping others learn how to think. He helped people understand the importance of perspective.
The world around us changes at a rapid pace. Learning what to think is too rigid. It is too finite. It is too stagnant. It can be more useful and more effective to learn how to think.
Learning how to solve problems will help you find solutions where no solutions are known. Not every answer can be known. Finding solutions can be more challenging to think on your own if you do not own your health.
Before Socrates, Thales of Miletus knew the importance of a healthy body and a healthy mind.
“What man is happy? He who has a healthy body, a resourceful mind and a docile nature.” – Thales of Miletus
Too often we get caught up in the complex. We forget that after thousands of years, life can be simple. Be calm. Take care of your body. Open your mind.
It would serve us well to continue to learn from Socrates.
The Real Con 71