Heraclitus and Socrates on Wise Humans and Their Ignorance

Various studies have suggested that both Socrates and Heraclitus distinguish between human and divine knowledge. However, researchers have not thoroughly examined the connection between their views. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between the perspectives of Heraclitus and Socrates on wisdom, knowledge, and epistemic authority. This will be done by analysing Heraclitus’ fragments concerning the nature of knowledge-acquisition, the epistemic authority of his predecessors and the nature of human wisdom, and Plato’s Apology, where Socrates disavows certain knowledge and refutes others’ claims to wisdom. The findings reveal a close relationship between Heraclitus’ and Socrates’ reasons for criticizing those considered wise by many people. Both philosophers think that without employing the correct method of inquiry, people will attain neither wisdom nor understanding. While Heraclitus provides a metaphysical foundation for his claim why people fail to attain knowledge–they do not understand the logos that governs everything–Socrates does not have any explicit metaphysical commitments but thinks that people do not know what human wisdom amounts to. However, both emphasize the practice of self-inquiry, the value of self-knowledge, and the distinction between human and divine wisdom.