Tom Hodgkinson looks at what the father of Western philosophy has to say on the matter

At the heart of what we do at the Idler is a continuing discussion about what makes a good life. The phrase appears first, as far as we can tell, in the utterings of Socrates. As you know, Socrates did not write anything down; what we know of him is recorded by his pupil Plato and friend Xenophon, among a few other sources.

You can compare the life of Socrates to the life of Christ, in that his teachings were about his public lectures and things he did – i.e. anecdotes. These anecdotes were compiled by a later writer called Diogenes Laertius. Philosophers then argued about the meaning of Socrates’ words and actions as they developed their ideas on how to live well.

One element of the good life is to be content with little. Says Diogenes Laertius:

Alcibiades [his rich and beautiful young friend] once offered him a large site on which to build a house; but he replied, “Suppose, then, I wanted shoes and you offered me a whole hide to make a pair with, would it not be ridiculous in me to take it?” Often when he looked at the multitude of wares exposed for sale, he would say to himself, “How many things I can do without!”

Socrates was a devotee of simple living:

He prided himself on his plain living, and never asked a fee from anyone. He used to say that he most enjoyed the food which was least in need of condiment, and the drink which made him feel the least hankering for some other drink; and that he was nearest to the gods in that he had the fewest wants.

Socrates said that education and knowledge were intrinsic to the good life. He enjoyed having a laugh, too:

Moreover, in his old age he learnt to play the lyre, declaring that he saw no absurdity in learning a new accomplishment. As Xenophon relates in the Symposium, it was his regular habit to dance, thinking that such exercise helped to keep the body in good condition.

Contemplation is an essential ingredient of the good life. In Plato’s Symposium, Socrates talks about his visit to the wise woman Diotima. She tells the philosopher that the best way to live your life is to spend your time contemplating beauty. She says that you should start with cultural visits: “he who would proceed aright in this matter should begin in youth to visit beautiful forms.” Later the philosopher will move on to the contemplation of divine beauty: “the vision is revealed to him of a single science, which is the science of beauty everywhere.”

This, my dear Socrates is that life above all others which man should live, in the contemplation of beauty absolute… the divine beauty, I mean, pure and clear and unalloyed, not clogged with the pollutions of mortality and all the colours and vanities of human life.

We should add that Socrates was keen on wine. In the Symposium, only Socrates stays awake after the all-night drinking session and – seemingly not drunk – continues his business in Athens the morning after, while his partners in debauch are crashed out on their couches.

So there are a few ideas from Socrates. What does the good life consist of in your view? Answers on an email or postcard.

And thanks so much for the postcards and letters which have arrived in the Idler office this week. Wonderful to read, and I will pin them on our noticeboard.

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