Dictionary of Philosophy of Religion

SOCRATES

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developed an account of the wealth of
nations. He advocated small scale, free
trade and a free market in which rational
individuals seek their self-interest. He
held that, ideally, if all seek their self-in-
terest, they will be guided by “an invisible
hand” to bring about the best outcome
for all involved. Smith also articulated
an ideal observer theory. He thought
that moral evaluations are grounded in
knowledge and sympathy with others as
we consider their welfare from an impar-
tial point of view. His works include The
Theory of the Moral Sentiments (1759)
and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes
of the Wealth of Nations (1776).

SOCRATES (c. 470–399 BCE). A classi-
cal Greek philosopher recognized as
one of the primary founders of Western
philosophy. We have no writings from
Socrates himself, but we know about him
through accounts from Aristophanes,
Xenophon, and Plato. Socrates was a
staunch believer in examining and reex-
amining one’s life. He professed that
wisdom can only come about through the
admittance that one is not omniscient
and actually ignorant of all the informa-
tion. This would be necessary to be
ethically virtuous, which held more
importance than living to Socrates.
Socrates was charged with irreverence for
failing to treat the gods of Athens with
due respect, thereby corrupting the youth.
The tale of his death in Plato’s Phaedo
promotes a foundational view of this life

as transient. He stood firm with his beliefs

at the cost of his life, and he accepted his

death as the release or freeing of his soul

from his body.

SOLIPSISM. Someone is a solipsist if she

thinks only she exists. Old joke: There

once was a person who adapted solipsism

and was curious why more people aren’t

solipsists. While the “joke” is based on

confusion, there is a kind of moral solip-

sism that can be shared by more than one

person. A solipsist in morality acts only

on the assumption that she exists as a

person; others function only to use for

private reason.

SOPHISM. An early school of thinkers

who specialized in the art of arguments

and often provided lessons in the art

of arguments for fees. Sophism was cri-

tiqued by some early philosophers who

contended that the sophists were not

driven by the love of wisdom, but more by

a love for winning disputes.

SORCERY. The practice of black magick

and channeling of evil forces to have

unnatural effects on the world. There is

some mention of sorcery in the Bible:

Leviticus 19:26 states, “... Do not practice

divination or sorcery.” Deuteronomy 18:10

declares “Let no one be found among you

who sacrifices his son or daughter in the

fire, who practices divination or sorcery,