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  Philosophical Thoughts of Socrates Socrates (469–399 BCE), one of the founding figures of Western philosophy, did not write any books. His ideas are known mainly through the writings of his students, especially Plato and Xenophon. Socrates believed that philosophy should not remain abstract but must guide how human beings live their everyday lives. 1. “ Know Thyself” (Self-Knowledge) One of Socrates’ central teachings was the importance of self-knowledge. He believed that most people live under false assumptions about themselves and the world. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” For Socrates, understanding one’s own ignorance was the first step toward wisdom. True knowledge begins when a person realizes how little they actually know. In literature: Characters who undergo self-realization often follow a Socratic journey (e.g., tragic heroes like Oedipus). 2. Socratic Method (Questioning and Dialogue) Socrates developed a unique method of teaching known as the Socratic Metho...