Abstract: “How should one live”, or “what is a good life”, is the core question in the Socratic Ethics and is the fundamental horizon in Socrates' philosophical concern. Through a series of asking and answering, elenchus and reprimand, the general picture of the “good life” was gradually clarified. Firstly, “good life” starts from pursuing the virtues, which can be called “the turn of virtue”, for instance, the turn from the care of the external natural things to the care of internal virtues of the soul. Secondly, “good life” starts with knowing the true self, which is the rationality, and it doesn't exist in the sensitive world of becoming, but in the world of being or true substances based on the rationality. Thirdly, Socrates doesn't consider the “good life” and the virtues as technical knowledge, because all techniques or arts are neutral in values and ambivalent, which can be used both for good or bad purposes, but the knowledge of “good life” and virtues can only be applied to good purposes and absolutely lead to the good. Fourthly, “good life” necessitates the practical wisdom, because the wisdom is a kind of comprehensive understanding or general grasp of all kinds of human values and goods in all circumstances. However, the human wisdom is so limited that they cannot obtain complete knowledge on the inner relations of all things; therefore, Socrates persists in the doctrine of “knowing the fact of ignorance”.

Key words: Socrates, virtue, good life, practical wisdom