Socrates: How to live a good life, there are only three words

Socrates was a great philosopher. At the feast of the three major masters of Western philosophy, his name is really so-called. Socrates did not write any books in his life, and he devoted himself to discussing ideas with young people. However, he raised a major answer to his understanding of himself. His famous saying is to know yourself.


For such a great philosopher who seeks answers like himself, how precious is the knowledge he gave to future generations? He told us how to live a good life, we only need to abide by the principle of three words, that is not to do evil.

He set a life goal for himself, which sublimated his whole life and even changed the history of Western philosophy.

His goal is not to do evil. We build a system to aid in understanding this goal.

People's personalities are not the same, let's take two examples of different constitutions to illustrate. Intrinsically driven or extrinsically driven, avoidant or chaser personality.

Whether we avoid or pursue the goal determines whether the goal belongs to avoidance or pursuit. Certain factors, internal or external, determine whether a goal is internally driven or externally driven.

Taking the internal drive as an example, we imagine a balance that is completely in a state of perfect balance, placing a goal of becoming rich on the left side of the balance, and placing an accountant source on the right side of the balance. Accountants are not yet rich, and there is still a gap between the two sides of the balance. This gap represents the pressure that the accountant is currently under. He must change his personality through knowledge and behavior to overcome the pressure and balance the two sides of the balance, so as to realize his transformation.

So how does this goal affect the character of the accountant?

The accountant decided to start investing. He chose a company he thought had prospects and invested 200,000.

The securities he bought tripled in value in the first week, and he was getting closer to his goal of becoming rich. The gap between the two sides of the scale began to gradually narrow, and he was unstoppable. He felt that he was on top of the world.

Friends and relatives have noticed a change in his energy, saying he seems more active than ever.

The next week, his securities fell back to their original value, and the balance began to widen again, and the accountant blamed himself, "How could I be so stupid?"

He felt lost, depressed, and those around him felt that his energy was not what it used to be. He refuses to socialize, and anything else is a hindrance and a distraction until he achieves his goals.

The accountant's goal is chasing type, too much attention to a single result, he can only relieve pressure by reaching a goal. It is the most pleasant thing for him to get close to the goal, and the most painful thing is to stay away from the goal.

Now let’s compare to avoid the new goal. This time we put the goal “No Poverty” on the left, and then put another accountant on the right. The accountant is no longer poor, so there is no gap between the balance. Keeping balance, how does this goal affect the personality of the accountant？The accountant decided to start investing, 200,000 in other companies. In the first week, he sat in front of the computer, preparing to view his evidence. The pressure increased, and the balance began to have a gap between the two sides. After opening the web, he found that his securities had tripled. He was overjoyed. He thought that everything changed only in a flash. As the accountant calmed down, the balance also rebalanced.

He turned off the browser and continued the next day. The opposite happened the next day. He was a little frustrated, but still happy, thinking that he would at least not be poor. He sought change and invested in choosing a new company. He tried to improve from last time, he would date friends.

The next week, his securities fell back to their original value, and the balance began to widen again, and the accountant blamed himself, "How could I be so stupid?"

He felt lost, depressed, and those around him felt that his energy was not what it used to be. He refuses to socialize, and anything else is a hindrance and a distraction until he achieves his goals.

The accountant's goal is chasing type, too much attention to a single result, he can only relieve pressure by reaching a goal. It is the most pleasant thing for him to get close to the goal, and the most painful thing is to stay away from the goal.

Now let’s compare to avoid the new goal. This time we put the goal “No Poverty” on the left, and then put another accountant on the right. The accountant is no longer poor, so there is no gap between the balance. Keeping balance, how does this goal affect the personality of the accountant？The accountant decided to start investing, 200,000 in other companies. In the first week, he sat in front of the computer, preparing to view his evidence. The pressure increased, and the balance began to have a gap between the two sides. After opening the web, he found that his securities had tripled. He was overjoyed. He thought that everything changed only in a flash. As the accountant calmed down, the balance also rebalanced.

He turned off the browser and continued the next day. The opposite happened the next day. He was a little frustrated, but still happy, thinking that he would at least not be poor. He sought change and invested in choosing a new company. He tried to improve from last time, he would date friends.

The next week, his securities were up and down again, but he was still in a good mood.

It can be seen that the character of the accountant is avoidant, as long as he is not poor, he can accept any result. He will calm himself down and adjust his emotions.

We can see that chasing goals can lead to chronic stress, emotional instability and fear of making mistakes, and an overly focused focus on achieving goals.

Avoidant types have short-term stress, but they are emotionally stable and like making mistakes, and can fully enjoy achieving goals.

Socrates' goal is not to do evil, and we place that goal on the left side of the scale, Socrates on the right.

Socrates does not do evil, so there is no gap between the two sides of the scale. He feels peaceful, content and balanced, but how does this goal affect Socrates' character?

Socrates believed that evil comes from ignorance, so he pursued wisdom all his life. He traveled around Athens, talking to people and discussing other questions of justice with them. Whenever he got an answer, he probed to the bottom to see if the answer On scrutiny, he found that these answers were often flimsy, and in doing so he made it clear that you were not who you thought you were.

Money, fame and status are seen by Socrates as obstacles to success.

Some people wanted to get rid of Socrates, and they sent Socrates to the deathbed.

Socrates said that he didn't know whether death was good or evil, because he didn't know what came after death, which he thought might be eternal sleep, or another life.

So the pressure of death on him is equal to his huge internally driven avoidant personality.

In court, he faced the charges with courage and integrity, and they later threw Socrates in jail.

Socrates is still calm, and it can be seen that Socrates is also peaceful in the face of death.

Someone offered to rescue Socrates, but he refused, thinking that it would be evil to escape.

He is said to have not hesitated, and even cheered, when taking poisoned alcohol. It is said that when the poison spread throughout his body and took hold, his friends wept around him, but he remained calm.

Socrates was the avoidant type, tending to focus on the process rather than the result.