The Origins of Our Motto: Gnōthi Seauton – Nosce Te Ipsum – Know Thyself
https://spiritualseek.online/the-origins-of-our-motto-gnothi-seauton-nosce-te-ipsum-know-thyself/
You can read it in the header of this website because it is our motto and most likely you have encountered it hundreds of times before: “Gnōthi Seauton“, translated into English as “Know Thyself“. But what is its origin and what does it intrinsically mean?
The Delphic Oracle
This epigram was engraved on the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi, a Greek city on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. It was home to the most prestigious Oracle of antiquity, where the Pythias, priestesses of Delphi, gave answers to those who questioned them. The maxim “Gnōthi Seauton” urged visitors to introspection, to explore their own consciousness, to seek the answers within themselves and not outside.
Socrates: The luminary of ancient greek philosophy
Numerous thinkers were inspired by this aphorism, including Socrates, the emblem of ancient philosophy. According to him, the search for truth, which dwells in man, is possible only by looking within and above all by conversing with oneself and others. Out of dialogue comes analysis, which has no definite goal as each answer is followed by a further question: doubt is the key to evolving and learning. Socratic maieutics was the dialogue-based method by which the philosopher helped his interlocutor search for truth.
The importance of dialogue for Socrates
Socrates left nothing written because he thought philosophy should be practiced through orality; philosophical discussion had to be continuous and could not admit a conclusive point as writing allowed. His ideas were passed on by his disciples, such as Plato and Xenophon.
Plato: from disciple to great philosopher
Plato also gave priority to the verbal aspect, but he felt the need to leave a trace of his theories and those of his master. For this reason he wrote meticulously, especially dialogues, in which Socrates was the protagonist; in this way it was possible to preserve fundamental elements such as alternating theses and dialectics. Plato gave birth to a unique philosophical thought that still forms the basis of Western culture today and inspires numerous scholars. Platonism is an all-round philosophy illustrated by the author mainly through myths, such as the myth of the cave, the myth of the winged chariot, the myth of Er.
The interpretation of the Oracle’s response
Cherephon, a companion of Socrates, once consulted the Oracle of Delphi and asked if there was anyone wiser than his dear friend. The Oracle’s answer was negative, indicating that no one possessed greater wisdom than Socrates. This fact then triggered in the philosopher a deep speculative quest. Socrates was known for his modesty, to the point of making a statement that still arouses interest and debate today, “I know that I know nothing“. The Oracle thus seemed to mean, in paradoxical terms, that he who knows that he does not know is actually the wisest of all.
Socrates’ quest for wisdom
Socrates, following the Oracle’s response, set out on a path of inquiry aimed at unraveling the innermost meaning of those words and grasping the truest meaning of knowledge, holding conversations with everyone he met in Athens in the hope of finding someone wiser than himself. However, his efforts were in vain, for he found that although many professed to be wise, their understanding of things was superficial and moreover they were unaware of their own lack of knowledge.
The realization of self-knowledge
Through his exploratory journey, he came to understand that true wisdom is found in being self-aware. He recognized that his own ignorance made him wiser than those who thought they knew so much and boasted about it. This awareness became the foundation of “Nosce te ipsum“, which emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and introspection.
The Ancient Romans and Stoicism
The Latins were fascinated by the powerful Greek culture and assimilated those aspects that they lacked. They inherited philosophical thought and translated the adage from the Oracle of Delphi as “Nosce Te Ipsum” or even “Temet Nosce“.
They revived some currents such as Stoicism, of which Seneca and Emperor Marcus Aurelius were two great exponents. The latter in particular argued that inner inquiry was fundamental to taking care of one’s soul and trying to live virtuously....
Questo articolo in italiano:
https://ricercaspirituale.online/le-origini-del-nostro-motto-gnothi-seauton-nosce-te-ipsum-conosci-te-stesso/
You can read it in the header of this website because it is our motto and most likely you have encountered it hundreds of times before: “Gnōthi Seauton“, translated into English as “Know Thyself“. But what is its origin and what does it intrinsically mean?
The Delphic Oracle
This epigram was engraved on the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi, a Greek city on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. It was home to the most prestigious Oracle of antiquity, where the Pythias, priestesses of Delphi, gave answers to those who questioned them. The maxim “Gnōthi Seauton” urged visitors to introspection, to explore their own consciousness, to seek the answers within themselves and not outside.
Socrates: The luminary of ancient greek philosophy
Numerous thinkers were inspired by this aphorism, including Socrates, the emblem of ancient philosophy. According to him, the search for truth, which dwells in man, is possible only by looking within and above all by conversing with oneself and others. Out of dialogue comes analysis, which has no definite goal as each answer is followed by a further question: doubt is the key to evolving and learning. Socratic maieutics was the dialogue-based method by which the philosopher helped his interlocutor search for truth.
The importance of dialogue for Socrates
Socrates left nothing written because he thought philosophy should be practiced through orality; philosophical discussion had to be continuous and could not admit a conclusive point as writing allowed. His ideas were passed on by his disciples, such as Plato and Xenophon.
Plato: from disciple to great philosopher
Plato also gave priority to the verbal aspect, but he felt the need to leave a trace of his theories and those of his master. For this reason he wrote meticulously, especially dialogues, in which Socrates was the protagonist; in this way it was possible to preserve fundamental elements such as alternating theses and dialectics. Plato gave birth to a unique philosophical thought that still forms the basis of Western culture today and inspires numerous scholars. Platonism is an all-round philosophy illustrated by the author mainly through myths, such as the myth of the cave, the myth of the winged chariot, the myth of Er.
The interpretation of the Oracle’s response
Cherephon, a companion of Socrates, once consulted the Oracle of Delphi and asked if there was anyone wiser than his dear friend. The Oracle’s answer was negative, indicating that no one possessed greater wisdom than Socrates. This fact then triggered in the philosopher a deep speculative quest. Socrates was known for his modesty, to the point of making a statement that still arouses interest and debate today, “I know that I know nothing“. The Oracle thus seemed to mean, in paradoxical terms, that he who knows that he does not know is actually the wisest of all.
Socrates’ quest for wisdom
Socrates, following the Oracle’s response, set out on a path of inquiry aimed at unraveling the innermost meaning of those words and grasping the truest meaning of knowledge, holding conversations with everyone he met in Athens in the hope of finding someone wiser than himself. However, his efforts were in vain, for he found that although many professed to be wise, their understanding of things was superficial and moreover they were unaware of their own lack of knowledge.
The realization of self-knowledge
Through his exploratory journey, he came to understand that true wisdom is found in being self-aware. He recognized that his own ignorance made him wiser than those who thought they knew so much and boasted about it. This awareness became the foundation of “Nosce te ipsum“, which emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and introspection.
The Ancient Romans and Stoicism
The Latins were fascinated by the powerful Greek culture and assimilated those aspects that they lacked. They inherited philosophical thought and translated the adage from the Oracle of Delphi as “Nosce Te Ipsum” or even “Temet Nosce“.
They revived some currents such as Stoicism, of which Seneca and Emperor Marcus Aurelius were two great exponents. The latter in particular argued that inner inquiry was fundamental to taking care of one’s soul and trying to live virtuously....
Questo articolo in italiano:
https://ricercaspirituale.online/le-origini-del-nostro-motto-gnothi-seauton-nosce-te-ipsum-conosci-te-stesso/
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