What if the socratic philosophers were alive today? - General

You ever think about what it would be like if some one like Socrates were alive today? What his views today would be like? Just wanted to know what you guys think socrates or platos views on some of the issues on todays world would be like. It would be very strange to hear Socrate's view on the current state of education, known for the socratic method, can you imagine if every class was taught using the socratic method. Also not dissing the socratic method but it would seem like it would hardly work anywhere outside a law class. Or something like abortion and rape, what kind of things do you think he would say about that? also [IMG]http://imaletyoufinish.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kanye-interupts-athens.jpg[/IMG]

they'd be beaten up everyday by ~420 gangsta kids~

They'd lose their will to live after seeing Twitter, Facebook, Justin Bieber, furries, and our ever more hedonistic and self-absorbed soceity.

I tweet, therefor I am

They'd probably off themselves when they see how horrible we've become.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;25332255]They'd probably off themselves when they see how horrible we've become.[/QUOTE] Horrible? We're not horrible compared to people 1000 years ago.

[QUOTE=Coffee;25332275]Horrible? We're not horrible compared to people 1000 years ago.[/QUOTE] You underestimate how detached we have become as a species. even with our major resources we still think only of ourselves.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;25332255]They'd probably off themselves when they see how horrible we've become.[/QUOTE] Uh... These are the best times to be living in, compared to the past. I

[QUOTE=Coffee;25332275]Horrible? We're not horrible compared to people 1000 years ago.[/QUOTE] how do you think were more horrible? i would consider us different but not more horrible

[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;25332230]They'd lose their will to live after seeing Twitter, Facebook, Justin Bieber, furries, and our ever more hedonistic and self-absorbed soceity.[/QUOTE]You have no idea what Greek society was like in the latter days, do you. Also I'm willing to bet they would all be stoners.

They'd most certainly live if they were alive.

They would all be disgusted by what we have become.

wow is everyone an whiny bitch about the state of society or what we're much better off than anyone back then and they'd be astounded by the things we've accomplished. The negatives wouldn't really stand out to them.

I don't think of the Socratic Philosophers, I think of the inventive minds of hundreds of years ago. Just think if they were alive today. Like Tesla, for example. It would be amazing.

[QUOTE=Dirf;25333411] Like Tesla, for example. It would be amazing.[/QUOTE] Lightsabres.

Jedi

So many fucking angsty kids in this thread complaining about how bad our society is. God damn Facepunch, get your act together you anti-social idiots.

*negative remark about modern society*

They'd probably die after trying to figure out all our new technology. Like the microwave.

[QUOTE=Tetracycline;25334555]So many fucking angsty kids in this thread complaining about how bad our society is. God damn Facepunch, get your act together you anti-social idiots.[/QUOTE] I can't exactly call our society exemplary either. Hell, the majority of the world population consists of retards or assholes. [QUOTE=Capn'Underpants;25334651]They'd probably die after trying to figure out all our new technology. Like the microwave.[/QUOTE] Wait till they try and handle a car!

[QUOTE=PunchedInFac;25332319]You underestimate how detached we have become as a species. even with our major resources we still think only of ourselves.[/QUOTE] I think you'd be surprised how similar modern western society is to the ancient Athenian society.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;25334668]I can't exactly call our society exemplary either. Hell, the majority of the world population consists of retards or assholes. Wait till they try and handle a car![/QUOTE] Not really

[QUOTE=Chrille;25334733]I think you'd be surprised how similar modern western society is to the ancient Athenian society.[/QUOTE] yes because city-states, slave labour, direct democracy and the viewing of any new technological advancement as nothing more than an amusing toy is something you see every day in modern america and europe [editline]08:24PM[/editline] funfact: a precursor to the steam engine was invented in ancient greece but no one could think of a use for it why would they need labour-saving devices when they had slaves, after all

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;25335091]yes because city-states, slave labour, direct democracy and the viewing of any new technological advancement as nothing more than an amusing toy is something you see every day in modern america and europe[/QUOTE] You'd have to be pretty retarded if you couldn't categorize the first three you mentioned as things from Ancient Athens that are not like modern western society. The fourth is pretty much the same, if a new technology in the modern world isn't developed for military purposes, it most likely is for entertainment purposes, but as with anything, this doesn't apply to all technology.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;25334668]I can't exactly call our society exemplary either. Hell, the majority of the world population consists of retards or assholes. Wait till they try and handle a car![/QUOTE] This fancy hand cart has the power of a hundred slaves!

[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;25332230]They'd lose their will to live after seeing Twitter, Facebook, Justin Bieber, furries, and our ever more hedonistic and self-absorbed soceity.[/QUOTE] You do realize that some of those same philosophers are cited to state that their society was full of self absorbed and hedonistic children, usually as they aged, right? We certainly don't seem to be that bad off after 2000 years of the progression of that, do we? You are placing their society as somthing much greater, as something near perfect, when the much more likely scenario is that they were much less willing to speak about their societys failings. The direct democracy devolving into mob logic, slavery seen as right are two such examples. We're much better off now than we were then, and anyone who says otherwise is not thinking clearly.

[QUOTE=Dirf;25333411]I don't think of the Socratic Philosophers, I think of the inventive minds of hundreds of years ago. Just think if they were alive today. Like Tesla, for example. It would be amazing.[/QUOTE] If Tesla came back from the dead I'd have to hug him and tell him how unappreciated he was/is.

We'd at least be sure that we know nothing.

Now that you mention it OP, it'd be awesome to see some of their reactions at how we're living today... For instance, I'd give an arm and a leg to see [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhenaten"]Akhenaten[/URL] alive again and what he has to say about modern society...

[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;25332230]They'd lose their will to live after seeing Twitter, Facebook, Justin Bieber, furries, and our ever more hedonistic and self-absorbed soceity.[/QUOTE] Even though I can agree with the whole self-absorbed society part to an extent, Facebook isn't a bad thing seeing as it's useful for business and a whole load of other crap. [editline]09:13PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;25334668]I can't exactly call our society exemplary either. Hell, the majority of the world population consists of retards or assholes.[/QUOTE] Majority? You're acting as if you've met every person in the whole world.