1. What is Sophrosune?
The pages of this website (accessed by clicking on the titles in the left hand column) provide a brief introduction to the concept of Sophrosune, each with a short accompanying video below the text.
Let’s start by finding out what the ancient Greeks meant by Sophrosune. Jack Crabtree, PhD, a Greek scholar and Professor at Gutenberg College in his insightful essay on “The Miracle of Sophrosune” interprets Plato’s definition of Sophrosune as:
“the virtue of enlightened self-acceptance, a self acceptance based on an accurate understanding of who one really is, a self-acceptance which results in a humble and settled contentment with and pursuit of one’s destined role in human existence.”
Four of the essential qualities of Sophrosune are brought out in his analysis of a rather complex dialog by Socrates:
1. Quietness of Soul: Knowing and having confidence in your own strengths and talents, and being fully comfortable with yourself.
2. Humility: Knowing your weaknesses and limitations, accepting them and not needing to be perfect.
3. Doing One’s Own Business: Out of fully knowing your strengths and weaknesses flows your understanding of your role in life. You are not trying to be someone you aren’t equipped to be.
4. Knowing Yourself: By being realistic about the world around you, and who you are, enables you to understand your destiny and live it out every day.
Sophrosune was thus the ancient Greek word for a well-lived life, a life that is in harmony with itself, a life that is introspective, and is lived and acted out of its deepest core.
As the video discusses, somehow in Western culture we have lost this idea about striving for ones personal destiny through a self-reflective life. We have been too busy being productive, making money, pursuing entertainment, enjoying ourselves and in the process we have missed this fundamental truth about the real meaning of our life.
To explore this topic further we suggest you select one of the links below.