Do you agree with the following quote? Why or why not?

Question

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates

This is my favourite quote because I think that the only thing that a human being can be sure of is that he/she knows little or nothing. On this tiny planet, in this vast universe, there are so many differing ideologies and so many are sure that their's is correct. How can they be sure when you take into account that we know little, or if we even exist for real at all?


What do you think about the quote? How do you interpret it?

Answer 1

Everything is based on something else. All logical arguements work on a series of "premises" or assumptions, which we then try to prove or disprove. The problem is that the basic assumption we make is that "logic works." But we have nothing to support this premise except logic, which is what IN logic is called begging the question. So it's possible that everything we "know" is wrong.

I think it's a bit of a misnomer to say you can know you know nothing. I mean, that's completely impossible. If you know you know nothing, you know something, and therefore don't know nothing. So really, there is no true wisdom, though I don't think Socrates meant to communicate this.

Answer 2

I like the quote. I like socrates. I would argue the only true wisdom is knowing what you know and being able to acknowledge what you do not know. A true philosopher does not know all and he accepts it and that is what makes him a philosopher. Those who do not know and don't accept it form opinions and that makes them morons.

Interpretation of the quote.
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"
As stated, I do like the quote, although I do not completely agree with the quote.

I ask if this nothing is an absolute nothing or a relative nothing. To know that you know nothing is knowledge, as nothing is either a something for you to know, or it is an absolute nothing and doesn't exist. If an absolute nothing, it is impossible to know absolutely nothing for the reason stated before. Knowing nothing relative to the everything there is to know is in fact a truth. We all know relatively little, our should I say our knowledge is limited. Anything limited over something infinite is 0, so this would also support one knowing nothing. For this I agree. I disagree in saying that knowing that we know nothing is wisdom.

If you say that one should equate the little that we know to nothing through the methods I used earlier and then apply that to the quote, I couldn't disagree, but then we would be saying that knowing that we know next-to-nothing is wisdom and acknowledging all that we do not know, but then we end up at my first paragraph.

Answer 3

I have to agree that is one of the great truths. Another similar truth is, and I paraphrase because I can't remember the exact quote, "The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know." Certainly, as I have become older and more experienced, the less smug or certain I become with regard to my own knowledge. However, I disagree with this Socrates quote in one respect -- I would remove the words, "The only...", for I do believe that we can acquire other wisdom if we pay enough attention on the journey.

Answer 4

Truth cannot be reasoned by a people stranded on one tiny planet, floating through a vast blackness. Instead, truth is revealed to you.

Someone here said, "True wisdom is knowing we do not inherantly know anything completely and that we can always learn." This is merely a perpetual skeptic talking. These people will never accept truth when it comes to them, because they simply refuse to be so decisive as to make the choice to believe in anything. They are indecisive. I am partial to this quote, myself: "A perpetually open mind is an empty one" (Not sure who said it.) Sooner or later, you have to make a decision as to what you believe in.

Answer 5

Absolutely! Socrates was right on and really was the godfather of existential thought. In order to truly be free, to do or not, in one's mind then you must accept that nothing has meaning. And of course, that we know nothing. One should not take these things literally, but simply. True wisdom is knowing we do not inherantly know anything completely and that we can always learn. This is just as meaning does not inherantly exist until it is placed upon the thought or the thing.

There is no one thought that fits all, and Socrates perceived that, as well as the idea there is always more to know and we must not assume complete knowledge.

Answer 6

I like the quote!

And I think it is very applicable in a religious sense too. Humans can't accept that they are NOT the masters of the universe and never will be. They can't comprehend the information given to them in the Bible nor understand why God doesn't give us a full account of everything He has done.

Simply, we do know nothing because we can't accept what we should. The phrase, "like blind sheep" comes to mind.

Answer 7

The only true wisdom comes from God the Father.


2 Chronicles 1:11 - And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

2 Chronicles 1:12 - Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

Answer 8

Beening a believer and experienceing the things of the TRUE GOD, I would say NO!....I don't believe in your quote!.....and this is my reason:.... your wisdom comes from your opinions & views which are based on ' man's wisdom'.....on the other hand, Believers in GOD Wisdom comes from GOD!...one is Earthly & the other is Spiritual! ( James 1: 5).......also read (James 3: 15)

Answer 9

I concur .It's a paradox. The more I learn about a subject the more questions it raises then I realize how much I do not know.

Funny side note when doctors start medical school they are told half of what they learn will be wrong in a few years.They just don't know what half.

Answer 10

Yes and no. Sorry, don't mean to sound wishy-washy. I agree that we cannot know for sure that what we know is "the truth".

But, what is the truth? I don't believe that the truth has to be the same thing for everyone. I believe that we all have our own personal truth, and that in looking within, we can find what is our own personal truth and it's okay for my truth to be different from your truth and vice versa. It doesn't make it any less the truth.