The 10 philosophical thoughts that still influence us

George Alvarez 01-06-2023
George Alvarez

Some things are timeless, that is, no matter when it was developed, they can still continue to make sense for a long time. Thus, the philosophical thoughts That is why we have listed 10 ideas that still influence us today. So, check out our post!

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On the importance of philosophical thoughts

In philosophy class, back in high school, they explain that this subject is a way of thinking and having a stance on the world. Furthermore, philosophy is a way of observing a reality that surrounds us. It also tries to think these events far beyond what they appear.

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Because of this premise, philosophical thoughts can help us understand a certain context, no matter when it was developed, since these ideas are often timeless. So, check out the following 10 philosophical ideas that influence us to this day.

1. "The ignorant asserts, the wise man doubts, the wise man reflects" (Aristotle)

Aristotle was able to bring a reflection that is still very valid today. After all, we live in a period of many divergences of ideas that end up harming our social coexistence.

So this thought brought by Socrates' successor makes sense for our current reality. For, in the midst of so many speeches, the sensible way to deal with it is to reflect all the information received.

2. "An unquestioned life is not worth living" (Plato)

Another successor of Socrates that could not be out of our list is Plato. In this sense, the first thought that we bring here from him is about life, because many times, because of the rush of everyday life, we don't even have the habit of questioning certain attitudes.

Therefore, it is always important that we take the time to reflect on the direction our lives are taking. Only in this way, can we live it fully and concisely, without any kind of regret.

3. "Try to move the world - the first step will be to move yourself" (Plato)

Plato's second philosophical thought is about the changes we want. After all, who doesn't want to make certain changes in our world? We want it to be the best possible place to live in society.

However, for change to happen, it is necessary that we ourselves, with our individuality, move. For it is these small attitudes that Plato said back in Ancient Greece, a little more than 300 years before Christ, that will make the difference. This idea is still very much perpetuated to this day.

4. "The part we ignore is much greater than all we know" (Plato)

Finally, Plato's third idea is about how ignorant we are. Because we are not in constant reflection, we do not stop to develop our knowledge. So it is crucial that we have that pause so that we don't ignore information that is more valuable than what we already know.

5 "To live without philosophizing is to have one's eyes closed without ever having tried to open them" (René Descartes)

Descartes also brought an idea that is very closely related to Plato's. In a very poetic way, he translates that not philosophizing is harmful. Therefore, this action consists in reflecting on such a reality and not just distinguishing what is apparent.

So we must always try to understand not only what is "visible to the eye", but what is behind a situation. Only then, can we really say that we are aware of it.

P philosophical teachings : the ideas of Socrates

As we know, Socrates was very important for philosophy as we know it today. His trips to the squares and markets of Ancient Greece yielded several thoughts that are still present in society today. So, let's take a look at some of them in the next topics.

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6. mortality of the soul

After observing events and the human form, Socrates concludes that the idea that the soul is finite is wrong. Therefore, for him the soul is something that never dies.

He further explained that even if our body dies, our soul is immortal. To reach this conclusion, he analyzed that certain thoughts can only occur if the soul is infinite. Finally, Socrates defined that the soul is the human reason, his conscious self.

7. the problem with the sophists

First of all, the sophists were the private teachers of ancient Greece. Socrates repudiated them, because he believed that education should not be restricted only to those who had money. In fact, he didn't charge anything to explain his ideas and lived off donations.

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Another thing he criticized was that the sophists taught ways to defend any opinion, even lying ones. In this way, Socrates had a great commitment to truth. For this philosopher, knowledge is what illuminates life by showing what is just, good, and right.

So this idea of education for all is very much advocated by many people.

8. virtue is worth more than money

Corruption is a great evil in society, this we already know. However, Socrates defended this idea long ago. For the philosopher, one must always persevere with integrity so that his soul does not become corrupted.

This is one of Socrates' most fundamental thoughts, since he decided to die so as not to corrupt himself. In this way, he died defending what he thought was the truth.

So, by arguing that our soul was immortal, he understood that virtues were more important than the comfort of the body. This is only achieved with riches. In other words, all the money passes away, but the truth, the honor, the love, the soul remain.

9. democracy and the philosopher king

Socrates explains that the philosopher, because he has a great commitment to truth and sees reality with wisdom, has everything to be able to rule. Furthermore, he defended the right and democracy of every Greek citizen to participate in public decisions.

Therefore, Socrates did not believe that democracy was only for the well-born.

10. P philosophical teachings Common Sense Ethics

To finish our list of philosophical thoughts, we will talk about common sense ethics. In other words, Socrates explains that man is able to perceive in his own conscience how to act in a correct way.

So he argued that it is better to suffer injustice than to commit it. Therefore, we don't need to respond to injustice for injustice's sake.

Finally, Socrates concludes that there is no point in knowing a lot and being dishonest. The intellectual life is closely linked to honesty, to the virtuous life.

Concluding remarks on philosophical thoughts

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.