Despite the fact that Cyrus the Great and Socrates led exceedingly different lives in
different areas of the world, both of these men were very much free thinkers and prospered in
their respective endeavors as a result of the extraordinary knowledge they possessed. In
particular, to better understand Cyrus’s ascension to and maintaining of the throne, it’s useful to
draw parallels between his knowledge and the knowledge of Socrates presented via Plato’s
Gorgias. I will argue that Cyrus’s success as leader of the world’s most powerful empire could
not have come to fruition without his utilization of the Socratic method of thought and
questioning throughout his development as a boy, youth, and mature man. Specifically, I will
connect …show more content…
As Socrates and Callicles go back and forth regarding the satisfying of
one’s appetite, Socrates points out, “He should not allow his appetites to be undisciplined or
undertake to fill them up—that’s interminably bad—and live the life of a marauder. Such a man
could not be dear to another man or to a god, for he cannot be a partner, and where there’s no
partnership there’s no friendship” (88). In this excerpt, Socrates is essentially highlighting the
fact that a man who gives into his pleasurable appetites is no longer capable of maintaining a
close connection or friendship with those around him. Applying this same framework to the way
in which Cyrus rules, it becomes clear that by not giving way to his appetites and instead
exercising self-control, Cyrus is able to create these “partnerships” and “friendships” that
comprise a vital component of his excellence in ruling. As Chapter III of Book VIII begins,
Cyrus is observed bestowing beautifully ornate cloaks upon the leaders of his army, “…he
distributed the most beautiful robes to those who were superior, he brought out still other Median
robes, for he had prepared very many…he bade them adorn their own friends with them…”
Nowrouzi …show more content…
Notice how in this instance once again the Socratic idea
of self-restraint predicating a true friendship is presented. Cyrus intentionally calls his army
leaders “friends” and places no importance on himself as to what he is wearing in a
demonstration of self-restraint to win over the favor of his army. Cyrus evidently understands the
link between self-restraint and friendship and time and time again takes advantage of it in order
to grow the Persian Empire in ways that are simply unmatched throughout history.
All in all, Cyrus the Great’s successful reign over the Persian Empire can in many ways
be attributed to the means in which he developed as a boy, youth, and mature man. In fact, the
unique development encountered by Cyrus was by no means ordinary and likely will not be
replicated by another being, let alone ruler. By following core Socratic principles including
questioning as a boy, early acquiring of wisdom as a youth, and self-restraint as a mature
different areas of the world, both of these men were very much free thinkers and prospered in
their respective endeavors as a result of the extraordinary knowledge they possessed. In
particular, to better understand Cyrus’s ascension to and maintaining of the throne, it’s useful to
draw parallels between his knowledge and the knowledge of Socrates presented via Plato’s
Gorgias. I will argue that Cyrus’s success as leader of the world’s most powerful empire could
not have come to fruition without his utilization of the Socratic method of thought and
questioning throughout his development as a boy, youth, and mature man. Specifically, I will
connect …show more content…
As Socrates and Callicles go back and forth regarding the satisfying of
one’s appetite, Socrates points out, “He should not allow his appetites to be undisciplined or
undertake to fill them up—that’s interminably bad—and live the life of a marauder. Such a man
could not be dear to another man or to a god, for he cannot be a partner, and where there’s no
partnership there’s no friendship” (88). In this excerpt, Socrates is essentially highlighting the
fact that a man who gives into his pleasurable appetites is no longer capable of maintaining a
close connection or friendship with those around him. Applying this same framework to the way
in which Cyrus rules, it becomes clear that by not giving way to his appetites and instead
exercising self-control, Cyrus is able to create these “partnerships” and “friendships” that
comprise a vital component of his excellence in ruling. As Chapter III of Book VIII begins,
Cyrus is observed bestowing beautifully ornate cloaks upon the leaders of his army, “…he
distributed the most beautiful robes to those who were superior, he brought out still other Median
robes, for he had prepared very many…he bade them adorn their own friends with them…”
Nowrouzi …show more content…
Notice how in this instance once again the Socratic idea
of self-restraint predicating a true friendship is presented. Cyrus intentionally calls his army
leaders “friends” and places no importance on himself as to what he is wearing in a
demonstration of self-restraint to win over the favor of his army. Cyrus evidently understands the
link between self-restraint and friendship and time and time again takes advantage of it in order
to grow the Persian Empire in ways that are simply unmatched throughout history.
All in all, Cyrus the Great’s successful reign over the Persian Empire can in many ways
be attributed to the means in which he developed as a boy, youth, and mature man. In fact, the
unique development encountered by Cyrus was by no means ordinary and likely will not be
replicated by another being, let alone ruler. By following core Socratic principles including
questioning as a boy, early acquiring of wisdom as a youth, and self-restraint as a mature