Philosophy of Socrates

• What we know about Socrates comes from what was written about him from men who either admired or hated his teachings. Socrates himself never wrote anything down, never formed his own school and vehemently denied ever being a teacher. Instead, he willingly embraced a life of poverty.
  
  One of Socrates' most famous sayings, that "the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being," encapsulates his philosophical beliefs. With neither classroom nor job, Socrates would spend his days cross-examining those around him about their motives, beliefs and virtues. Often these sessions exposed the ignorance of those Socrates debated with about the true nature of honor, justice and nobility.
  
  

Philosophy of Marcus

• Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his philosophical beliefs in a collection of personal writings called the "Meditations." Marcus' writings reflect the influence of philosopher Epictetus, and his school of philosophy known as Stoicism. Stoicism teaches apathy to all things external, as all things that happen outside of the body can be neither good nor evil. Therefore, poverty and riches, sickness and health, cruel and kind, were all viewed as equally unimportant.
  
  Stoics believe the mind is a blank slate, and knowledge is derived from the five senses. Poverty is neither good nor evil because understanding it comes only from perception. As there is no way to know if what is perceived is true, the only truth people can know is the sensation of perception.
  
  

Similarities

• The Stoics' belief that the material was inconsequential was similar to that of Socrates' own beliefs. As a man whose only aspiration was to examine those around him, Socrates ignored the social norms of Athens. He did not engage in politics or earn money from his teachings. Rich and poor and even living and dying were inconsequential to Socrates, as he demonstrates in the "Crito," when juxtaposed against his philosophical beliefs.
  
  

Differences

• In Socrates' cross-examinations of others, he repeatedly sought to prove that an individual's concept of virtuous beliefs was flawed by perceptions. This places Socrates into direct conflict with Stoic beliefs about perception being the only truth people can know.
  
  To Socrates, the mind was the source of knowledge, which is why he constantly sought to question that which was commonly assumed to be true. Therefore perception did not influence the mind, but, rather, the mind influenced perception.