Reflection Paper #11

Socrates was a man that was very ethical and he concentrated on definitions and loved to pit a defense point of view against each other, he loved to debate. He thought books were for mere recreation and amusement or thing to treasure, because you could not ask books any questions. He had great respect for women that were wise and he believed that women should be educated in the same way as man because their nature to learn was not different from men.

For the young Greek citizen education consisted of grammar, music and gymnastics. Grammar was the learning to read and write. Music was the different arts of the Muses such as playing the harp, flute, singing, dancing, poetry and sometimes painting and sculpturing. Socrates encouraged the idea studying the basic subjects but he was not a teacher of them at all. He also exercised and suggested that others do the same thing. He thought the physical training was very important. If you were not in shape and were in war you would be the first to die because of the bad condition your health was in. He thought physical activity was good for the health. He also was very conscious of what he ate. He thought all this training should start at a very young age. In our modern educational time we to believe in grammar, athletics and music just as Socrates did. We put lots of emphasis on the reading and writing and unfortunately with the economic crisis many of the athletic and music programs have been eliminated but that is any area of education which is so critical to the students. I saw how important the extra curricula activity was in my life and how I always stayed focused with my grades to be able to participate in my cross country meets and my dance team.

The ancient Greeks viewed ethics in what kind of habits and character should I be? Socrates believed that is was more important to be a good person and ethical person. In today’s society that is a very sore topic with some people. Everyone is looking out for themselves and for their own interest and don’t care about others.

Socrates believed in a higher being he didn’t know what or who but he believed that there was a higher being. Unfortunately in public schools today we are not allowed to pray. I am very thankful that I attended a catholic school for elementary and middle school and was able to express my religious ideas.