Aim: How can we compare and contrast the philosophical ideas of Confucius and Socrates?

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Aim How can we compare and contrast the
philosophical ideas of Confucius and Socrates?

• Do Now Read dialogue with Socrates and respond
  to the question in your notebook.
• Socrates Is lying a bad thing?
• Student Certainly. The gods tell us that lying
  is a terrible sin.
• Socrates So lying is always a terrible sin?
• Student Absolutely
• Socrates Well then Let us suppose that a
  fathers son is terribly sick, but refuses to
  take his medicine. The father puts the medicine
  in his sons drink and tells his son there is
  only water in his drink. Is the fathers lie a
  terrible sin?
• Question How would you respond to Socrates
  question? Why?

What does this dialogue tell you about Socrates
and his teaching methods?
Mr. McEntarfer HSLPS Global History I
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Instructional Objectives

• We will be able to
• Describe the philosophical ideas of Socrates and
  Confucius.
• Role play a meeting between Socrates and
  Confucius
• Discuss a topic using the Socratic Method.

• Agenda
• Do Now Socrates on lying
• Notes on Socrates
• Play Socrates Meets Confucius
• Practice the Socratic Method
• Summary Question

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Socrates

• Vocabulary - Philosophy A system of ideas about
  life.

• Socrates (470-399 BC) Teacher and Philosopher
• 1. Developed the Socratic Method of questioning
  people in order to
• Establish the truth about life
• To get people to think for themselves instead of
  relying on superstition, gossip and tradition
• 2. Tried, jailed and executed for his crime
  corrupting Athens youth by encouraging them to
  question life, including their parents and the
  government of Athens.

One of Socrates most famous quotes is One thing
only I know, and that is that I know nothing
What do you think he meant?
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Activity

• Read the play, Confucius Meets Socrates.
  Volunteers?
• Respond to questions from play.

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Responses to Questions

• Explain how Socrates and Confucius have a
  difference of opinion when it comes to
  questioning authority.
• Confucius believes people should respect and
  therefore not question authority. Socrates
  believes people should question everything,
  especially authority.
• What did Confucius learn from Socrates? What flaw
  did he find in his philosophy from their
  conversation?
• Confucius learned that authority should not go
  unquestioned. He learned that in some cases abuse
  and ignorance from authority can in itself cause
  chaos if not questioned. Confucius came up with
  the idea of civil service exams to ensure that
  authority figures are competent and sane.
• What did Socrates learn from Confucius? What flaw
  did he find in his philosophy from their
  conversation?
• Socrates learned from Confucius that people
  should be careful when forming their questions as
  to not show disrespect. He realized that he may
  have incited chaos when his students overthrew
  the government and how his Socratic Method got
  him the death penalty.
• If our school offered a course in philosophy,
  which of these philosophers classes would you
  prefer to attend? Explain your answer.

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Activity The Socratic Method

• Role play a dialogue between Socrates and one of
  his students.
• Pair up with the person on your right. The oldest
  will be Socrates.
• Start with the question, Why do you go to
  school. After this question is answered
  Socrates will ask the student at least three
  more follow up questions related to the topic
  which the student must answer. Record the
  dialogue.

Example Socrates Why do you go to school?
Student Blah, blah, blah
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Summary Questions

• How did Socrates get his students to think?
• Why was Socrates sentenced to death?
• What is the fundamental difference between
  Socrates and Confuciuss philosophies?

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Homework

• Socrates on Gossip.