Plato's Apology

Prior to attending this class, I did not think of education as anything more than the process of acquiring general knowledge. I was later surprised to discover that education in general and the process of education is much more complex. Many extraordinary philosophers throughout history have claimed to be the most educated men of their time. But what does it really mean to be educated? Education is not necessarily something that can be measured, so how do we determine whether or not someone is educated? In this paper, I propose to explore the meaning of education by using a number of famous philosophers and their theories on education. A significant part of education is the consumption of knowledge. An individual is unable to form opinions …show more content…
By using Socrates as a literary figure in the Apology, Plato narrates that Socrates had learned from his close friend that the Oracle of Delphi had proclaimed Socrates to be the wisest man in Athens, Greece. Shocked by this announcement, Socrates began to search out all the educated men of Athens and began to question their professions. From his journey, Socrates came to the realization that himself and all those who claimed to be educated actually knew nothing. In spite of making many enemies along the way, Socrates discovered the limitation of education; not accepting that to which you do not know. Through this discovery, Socrates himself became educated, finally excepting the title of being the wisest man in Athens, before his execution. Socrates would suggest that the first step in the process of education is to admit to learning that which you don’t know. I would agree with his theory of education because to be educated is having the ability to listen carefully, think critically, and explore one’s own and others viewpoints. It is not the self-assured intellectual who demonstrates wisdom but is the genuinely curious, open-minded seeker of truth, who elicits …show more content…
The goal of education, in his view, is not to create a scholar but a victorious or a wise man. This is subsequently similar to Quintilian view on the essential elements of the perfect orator. Quintilian expressed that the perfect orator should not only be a good man with the “possession of exceptional gifts of speech,” but should also have “ all the excellences of character” (Quintilian p.4). I do agree with both Locke and Quintilian on the importance of moral education. Education is not only a measure of the amount of factual knowledge one holds on a topic but is about how well an individual can interact and communicate with the world around them. Moral education is designed to create moral individuals. Connected to the idea of virtue, as Locke suggested to be the primary and most necessary endowment when educating a child. Without the requisite of virtue, he will not be “valued and beloved by others” or “accepted or tolerable to himself,” resulting in unhappiness in both this world and the next (Locke