Socrates’ argument at the end of Apology is that death is a blessing in one of two ways. It is either a “state of nothingness” or it is a “migration of the soul.” If death is comprised of nothingness, then it should be looked forward to because it would be a peaceful and restful sleep. On the other hand, if death is a migration of his soul, then Socrates would be able to be in the presence of the great people that have died before him, so he would be able to enjoy the afterlife surrounded by great figures that he could question regarding their wisdom. Socrates’ argument that death is a “state of nothingness” is self-contradictory because something cannot become nothing if it was once something, so his argument that death would comprise…
In allowing himself to be executed, Socrates would be allowing his unfair trial to be validated. He also plays to his duties as a father, stating that “if [he] go[s] off when [he] could be educating them… they’ll meet the same fate which usually befalls orphans once they’ve lost their parents” (Cahn 507). He tries to convince Socrates that he is choosing the easier path, and not finishing the education of his…
Arguably the most influential philosopher to emerge from Ancient Greece, Socrates was widely despised throughout his lifetime for his incessant search to find a man with more wisdom than he. Socrates was subjected to trial on the charges of impiety and corruption of the youth and was ultimately deemed guilty by the jury. Plato recounts Socrates’ lengthy speech of defense and his subsequent sentence to execution in his dialogue, The Apology. Regardless of his innocence or guilt, however, the verdict of Socrates’ execution is the most appropriate outcome of the trial. In his plea for acquittal, Socrates unwittingly proposes a more compelling argument in support of his own execution rather than against it.…
Socrates’ perception of the afterlife is where “all the dead are (pg. 16) therefore he will be able to meet with other famous philosophers and warriors and will continue to debate philosophy for eternity. Socrates asserts that the ruling is a blessing and does so to justify this claim through an association fallacy: death is either an afterlife or eternal rest. Since the afterlife is good and eternal rest is good, then therefore, death must inherently be…
Socrates makes a statement that if the jury kills him it will not be easy to find another like him. However once he is sentenced to death he states there will be more accusers after he is gone. Is he not contradicting himself? Was he trying to spare his life even though he claimed to not fear death? Another statement that leaves me with questions is, in the beginning of Socrates speech he says that his friend asked an oracle if there is anyone wiser than Socrates.…
Echecrates, knowing that Phaedo was present in the moments leading to Socrates’ execution, pleads with him to recount his final conversation with Socrates. Phaedo notes that a number of Socrates’ friends were present in his cell including Crito and two Pythagorean philosophers, Simmias and Cerbes. The group’s discussion begins with Socrates presenting a central theme of the text: that philosopher should look forward to death. Although he argues that suicide lacks a moral justification, Socrates maintains that the life of a philosopher is a preparation for death. He first claims that death is a release of the soul from the body.…
The ideas, proceedings and ultimate judgement had a political hand all stemming from Socrates criticism to the political class, poets, and craftsmen through his philosophical engagements. Socrates was found guilty with a narrow margin, but his proposal for penalty added insult to injury. He also rejected prison and exile, offering perhaps instead to pay a fine. The judge rejected his suggestion and sentenced him to death and with a philosophical statement, Socrates accepted the judgement saying that only the gods know what happens after death and so it would be foolish to fear what one does not know. Further, is there a true measure of guilt or innocence in Socrates’ case?…
He also accepts his fate stating that, “it is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death… it is much more difficult to avoid depravity.” All of his life Socrates taught philosophy and forward thinking, and if he had gone back and begged for a fine or for jail he would’ve thrown away everything he had taught to his students and everything his life had supposedly stood for which is to be moral just and virtuous. Socrates goes on to say that the judges should punish his sons and pain them as he had pained them if they were to exhibit signs of depravity by holding things like money before virtue.…
Socrates continues to explain how he can’t violate the verdict, which in this case is the death penalty therefore, it would be wrong because Socrates couldn’t go against his principles. Socrates states, “ Come then, if we destroy that which becomes better by the healthful and is corrupted by the distasteful, because we don’t obey the opinion of the experts, is life worth living for us when it has been corrupted? Surely this is the body, isn’t it?”(47e) Socrates is explaining how in his mind life is not worth living unless it is lived appropriately in this case being, that the ethical life is more important than life itself. Socrates continues his justification on why he can’t escape prison because by committing this action he would be doing what he considers as the unjust thing because he would’ve been seen as a dishonorable…
In the “Apology” Socrates is on trial for crimes he has not committed. Socrates ultimately does not fear death because of his innocence, he believes that death is not feared because it may be one of the greatest blessings of the soul. For a person such as Socrates that has lived virtuously there no reason for them to fear death. Socrates makes the argument that one should not fear death because only the gods know what is beyond death,because death could be a blessing. According to Socrates, “I had at the risk of death, like anyone else, remained at my post where those you had elected to command had ordered me, and then, when the god ordered me, as I thought and believed, to live the life as a philosopher, to examine myself and others,…
Phaedo. The question of this dialogue: Man before death. Should man love death? If so, why then, condemn suicide? Or should man hate death?…
Perhaps Socrates realized the courts were right in his sentence because he was not truly wise and had in fact corrupted the minds of the youth. Or, maybe he knew that if he was to be acquitted of the charges he would continue his teachings and probably end up back in jail, and would rather not waste the time and effort. Or, maybe Socrates’ love of Athens and the respect he had for the government and the courts decision stopped him from fleeing his death…
Socrates was the main cause of his own death while under trial. In the Athenian system, for this kind of trial, a defendant could suggest his own penalty. Instead of taking this opportunity seriously, Socrates first jokingly said that he should be rewarded instead and put into the same chambers as the Olympians. Obviously, his jurors did not see the humility in this and therefore, passed the death…
Socrates’s Argument on Death The topic of death frightens human beings for several reasons because of the speculation and the anxiety that surround death. Even though most people fear death, philosophers such as Socrates argue that there is no valid reason to fear death (Ahrensdorf 1995). According to 5Socrates, death is a blessing in the context of the relocation of the soul. Socrates avers that death is something that people should not fear and provide several arguments to validate his argument.…
In Plato’s Apology, Socrates is put on trial for accusations of disruptive behavior. Some men in the community feel that his way of life goes against the will of the Gods and corrupts the youth. As he stands before a jury that will ultimately decide his fate, Socrates states that “the difficulty… is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding the unrighteousness” (Plato 38). Socrates knows that death is inevitable, and repeatedly claims he does not fear it. He believes that it is harder to run from the injustices and evils of the world than it is from death, so he defends his philosophy even after execution becomes the verdict.…