Full Answer Section

Socrates

Socrates was an Athenian philosopher who lived from 470 to 399 BCE. He is considered one of the founders of Western philosophy. Socrates’s method of teaching was to engage his students in dialogue, questioning them about their beliefs and assumptions. He believed that true knowledge could only be obtained through critical thinking and self-examination.

Socrates’s teachings were controversial in his own time, and he was eventually put on trial for impiety and corrupting the youth. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by drinking hemlock.

Despite his untimely death, Socrates’s teachings have had a lasting impact on Western thought. His emphasis on critical thinking and self-examination continues to be relevant today, as we grapple with complex issues such as climate change and political polarization.

Buddha

Buddha was a spiritual leader and teacher who lived in India from the 6th to the 5th century BCE. He is the founder of Buddhism, one of the world’s major religions. Buddha’s teachings are based on the Four Noble Truths:

• Truth of suffering: Suffering is an inevitable part of life.
• Truth of the cause of suffering: Suffering is caused by craving or attachment.
• Truth of the end of suffering: Suffering can be ended by eliminating craving or attachment.
• Truth of the path to the end of suffering: The path to the end of suffering is the Eightfold Path.

Buddha’s teachings have had a profound impact on the world, with over 500 million adherents today. His message of compassion, non-violence, and mindfulness is as relevant today as it was 2,500 years ago.

Questions about the Axial Age Thinkers

Confucius

• What were Confucius’s core beliefs?
• How did Confucius’s teachings impact Chinese society?
• What are some of the challenges and opportunities facing Confucianism today?

Socrates

• What was Socrates’s method of teaching?
• What were Socrates’s main philosophical contributions?
• Why was Socrates put on trial and sentenced to death?

Buddha

• What are the Four Noble Truths?
• What is the Eightfold Path?
• How did Buddha’s teachings spread throughout the world?

Sources

• Anholt, Dennis. “Confucianism.” In The Routledge Companion to Global Philosophy, edited by Brian Leiter and Maria Baghramian, 188-207. Routledge, 2020.

• Gill, Christopher. Socrates. Oxford University Press, 2006.

• Harvey, Peter. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History, Practices. Cambridge University Press, 2013.