Nothing stupid please, I just want people's thoughts.
2006-09-05 01:48:38 · 13 answers · asked by jamesjamesjam1 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Because true wisdom exists in knowing that we REALLY know "nothing", we only have educated guesses. It's humble and honest to admit that we as merely mortal human beings do NOT have all the answers, and in a lifetime, we never will. There's an infinite amount of things to learn and observe and only a finite amount of time to do it. A mortal lifetime is not long enough to know all the answers of the universe.
2006-09-05 01:58:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is one of the wisest things. As humans we think we know almost everything there is to know. Some of us anyway. But the universe is so vast and filed with amazing things that we will never in a million years come close to knowing. Therefore, what we know (or think we do) is not even a drop in the ocean compared to what goes on in the universe everyday. Admitting that fact is by far a sign of wisdom.
2006-09-05 09:20:24 · answer #2 · answered by BabyAngel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It enounces humbleness before the great mysteries of life and the universe. We would be foolish to believe we have all the answers.
It means we must be able to observe without rushing to conclusions. Let things be what they are, rather than what we believe or want them to be.
In fact, it not only takes humbleness to live in a world we don't fully comprehend, it also takes courage to face the unknown as such.
2006-09-05 08:54:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's first look a the first part. "I know nothing". I agree with him because all human knowledge is flawed. Our memories can be flawed, our thoughts can be flawed. How could we ever know anything? But what I just said, assumes that we can know one thing, that we are ignorant of everything.
Another way to word the statement might be, "There is only one thing that I know, and this is it."
2006-09-05 21:36:45 · answer #4 · answered by Michael M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is wise indeed...Because Socrates was Greek!!!!!!!! lol
well,seriously now its a big thing to face the fact that youll never be able to learn everything..dont forget that it is said by a big philosopher who was somehow supposed to do so(know everything)
if you dont like this version though,i got another for you:he was a philosopher, so you never can be sure of what he exactly means by what he says...!
2006-09-05 09:06:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because he was being asked by Brutus the Unhinged whether he had seen his girlfriend, who was hiding in Socrates' cupboard at the time.
2006-09-05 08:59:17 · answer #6 · answered by RonanJ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His ability to acknowledge his own ignorance illustrates his humility and his intelligence. An ignorant man would not be able to recognize his own ignorance.
2006-09-05 09:04:58 · answer #7 · answered by poppet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's saying that it's a position of weakness to claim to know everything (or everything about one thing).
He's decrying righteousness.
He's saying "being wrong" is the stronger position...I agree.
2006-09-05 08:51:12 · answer #8 · answered by flignar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it isn't obvious? everything you "know" as "truth" is a closed door on something you haven't considered yet. if the only thing you "know" is that you you really don't know anything for sure, then all the doors to thought remain open.
2006-09-05 08:52:40 · answer #9 · answered by quazar1973 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What we don't know is astounding. he is saying (from my point of view) that he may be smart, but he's not all that smart, So much to try and learn, so little time to do it
2006-09-05 08:50:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋