Living Wisely: Lessons from Socrates for a Modern Life

How the teachings of history's greatest philosopher can help us question, think, and flourish.

*This is Part I of a review of How To Think Like Socrates by Donald Robertson.*

"We should not only strive to intellectually understand the great sages of history but also draw inspiration to emulate their way of living."

The life of Socrates remains shrouded in mystery, largely due to the limited historical information about him. Most of what we know comes from the writings of two of his most famous students, Plato and Xenophon. While their dialogues are widely regarded as fictional, they likely reflect the essence of Socrates’ ideas and the answers he might have given. Despite the controversies surrounding these texts, Socrates was undoubtedly a real person, and his teachings offer profound insights into how we can refine our thinking.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a modern psychological practice, draws heavily from the ancient traditions of philosophical inquiry. It emphasizes questioning our emotions to uncover their root causes—a technique rooted in Socrates’ teachings. The Socratic Method, familiar to many from school, involves asking incisive questions to clarify thought, expose contradictions, and uncover truth. By adopting this method of self-inquiry, we can learn to better manage our emotions and thinking, gaining a sense of inner freedom.

As Donald Robertson suggests, Socrates' teachings guide us toward "a way of living, guided by our own reason rather than the advice of others, which can lead us toward freedom and genuine fulfillment."

One of the most famous stories about Socrates involves the Oracle at Delphi. A fellow Greek philosopher visited the temple of Apollo and asked the priestess if there was anyone wiser than Socrates. Through the Oracle, Apollo declared that no one was wiser.

Doubtful of this claim, Socrates set out to disprove it. He sought out the wisest individuals in Athens, questioning politicians, poets, and craftsmen. Time and again, he concluded that those who appeared—and believed themselves—to be wise were often the most ignorant. From this quest, Socrates realized a profound truth: the wisest person is one who recognizes the limits of their own knowledge.

As Socrates himself put it:

"I am called 'wise' by those who imagine that I possess the wisdom I find lacking in others. The truth is, however, that only God is wise. What Apollo meant to show through his pronouncement was that the wisdom of men is of little or no value by comparison. When he used my name, it was as an example of a more general truth, as if he were saying, 'He is the wisest, who, like Socrates, realizes that his apparent wisdom is worth nothing.'"

Before Socrates, Greek philosophy largely focused on the natural world, attempting to explain phenomena like solar eclipses in rational terms rather than as acts of the gods. Socrates, however, was more interested in the why. He believed it was far more valuable to understand the reasoning behind human actions than to unravel the physical world.

“What good is it to know what material the sun is made of,” he might argue, “if it does nothing to improve your life?” For Socrates, the goal of philosophy was to help people flourish—achieve their ideal character. True understanding, he taught, comes from self-examination and critical thinking.

To begin living more Socratically, try this exercise: create a list of what a flourishing life looks like to you. Then, challenge each idea by considering someone who flourishes without it. For example:

• Physical health: While important, is it essential for a good life? Can you think of someone who isn’t physically healthy yet lives a fulfilling life?

• Career alignment: Does your career need to align perfectly with your values, or can flourishing come from other areas of life?

• Love: Is love—romantic or familial—essential to flourishing, or are there examples of individuals living well without it?

• Free time: Must flourishing include ample free time for hobbies, or can structure and busyness be fulfilling in their own ways?

This list will evolve as you continue to question your assumptions and challenge your beliefs. In doing so, you bring Socratic questioning into your own life, making his wisdom a living practice.

As Robertson aptly states:

"The question, 'What is best in life?' is far too important to be entrusted to other people. We each have a duty to answer it for ourselves, by using our own reason."

By adopting Socrates’ method of inquiry, we empower ourselves to think more deeply and live more authentically. His legacy reminds us that the pursuit of wisdom is not just an intellectual endeavor but a way of life.