The famous phrase "I only know that I know nothing," attributed to Socrates, is somewhat problematic, as the translation is not entirely accurate, as pointed out by Ferrero (2020). Although it is well known that Socrates did not write anything, this phrase originated in Plato's dialogue called "Apology of Socrates," which recounts the circumstances of his trial and death sentence, as indicated by Ber (2021). Furthermore, according to Ferrero (2020), this dialogue provides a version of the speech that Socrates gave in his defense before the Athenian courts.
It is important to highlight that this phrase has become a symbol of intellectual humility and the constant pursuit of knowledge, even when one is aware of their own ignorance. However, its origin and attribution to Socrates are not completely accurate and are related to the historical context in which he lived.
Origin
There are various versions about the origin of the famous phrase "I only know that I know nothing" (Ber, 2021). The most well-known one says that a friend of Socrates, Chaerephon, went to the sacred sanctuary of Delphi to ask the god Apollo if there was anyone wiser than Socrates. The oracle replied that there was no one wiser than him. According to Ber (2021), Socrates, who believed he knew nothing, was surprised by the response and decided to investigate the reason behind these words and refute the message of the oracle.
To discover the reason for this response, Socrates began an investigation by talking to people he considered wise, such as statesmen, poets, and teachers, using what is now known as the Socratic method: a dialogue technique that uses incisive questions to stimulate critical thinking and extract assumptions (Maden, 2020). According to Ber (2021), Socrates discovered that, in reality, these people were not wise, as they believed they knew a lot, but in reality knew nothing.
At the end of his investigation, Socrates understood the profound truth behind the message of the oracle: others believed they knew, but were not aware of their own ignorance, while he was aware of his (Ber, 2021). According to Ber (2021), this is why it was said that Socrates was the wisest, as he did not possess a particular ideology, but was aware of his own limitations.
In summary, the expression "I only know that I know nothing" represents humility and awareness of our own ignorance, characteristics that Socrates demonstrated through his investigation and his Socratic method of argumentative dialogue (Maden, 2020). Although Socrates may have been considered the wisest of his time, Ber (2021) mentions that his true wisdom lay in his humility and constant search for truth.
Meaning
The famous quote from Socrates, "I only know that I know nothing," has a much deeper meaning than what is currently known (Ferrero, 2020). This statement implies that there are different perspectives on society, justice, and courage, and that these concepts can be understood in many ways without reaching a consensus or absolute certainty about any subject (Ferrero, 2020). Socrates used this phrase to emphasize the importance of questioning what seems obvious and basing knowledge on constructive criticism (Torres, n.d.). According to Ferrero (2020), Socrates was not asserting that he knew nothing, but rather that one cannot know something with absolute certainty, even when they believe they are fully confident.
On the one hand, "I only know" means possessing great wisdom, while on the other hand, "that I know nothing" represents the silence that may seem simple but is actually fundamental (Romero, 2017). This silence is the source of all knowledge and connects with the spirit. In ancient times, students and groups of philosophers had special places to study in silence. Nowadays, we are surrounded by obligations that prevent people from spending time alone and in silence. Thus, Socrates' message, as mentioned by Romero (2017), emphasizes that wisdom is found within each person and that true change in the world begins internally.
In summary, the phrase "I only know that I know nothing" has a profound and diverse connotation. According to Ferrero (2020), this implies that there are different perspectives on society, and that justice and courage can be understood in many ways without reaching an absolute consensus. Socrates, for his part, emphasized the importance of questioning the obvious to strengthen theories and make them correspond to reality through constructive criticism (Torres, n.d.). The silence that represents "not knowing" may seem like a waste of time, but it is actually fundamental to connect with the spirit and gain wisdom (Romero, 2017). In short, Socrates' message, according to Romero (2017), is that wisdom is found within each person, and that true change in the world begins internally.
References
Ber, D. (2021). ¿Qué significa la frase 'Sólo sé que no sé nada'?. Clarin.com. Recuperado 21 April 2021, a partir de https://www.clarin.com/cultura/-significa-frase-solo-_0_dlFA6n0R-.html
Ferrero, J. (2020). "Solo sé que no sé nada" y su imprecisión. Contrainformación. Recuperado 21 April 2021, a partir de https://contrainformacion.es/solo-se-que-no-se-nada-imprecision/
Maden, J. (2020). Socrates and the Socratic Paradox: I Know That I Know Nothing. Philosophybreak.com. Recuperado 21 April 2021, a partir de https://philosophybreak.com/articles/socrates-and-the-socratic-paradox-i-know-that-i-know-nothing/
Romero, J. (2017). El pensamiento que cambia vidas: «Solo sé que nada sé».. Club de Escritura Fuentetaja. Recuperado 21 April 2021, a partir de https://clubdeescritura.com/convocatoria/i-concurso-relato-filosofico/leer/473238/el-pensamiento-que-cambia-vidas-solo-se-que-nada-se/
Torres, A. La teoría epistemológica de Sócrates. Psicologiaymente.com. Recuperado 21 April 2021, a partir de https://psicologiaymente.com/psicologia/teoria-epistemologica-socrates
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