Socrates Reflection

Great Essays
The book retells the trial and the long conversations held by Socrates and his comrades before he is to drink the poison. Socrates views and ideas about the world were much different than that of the current population. These ideas led him to be accused of corrupting the young and creating new Gods while denying the existence of old ones [Plato 2]. He also speculates the heavens and the earth beneath, making the worse appear the better cause [Plato 20]. Socrates prosecutors called him an evil-doer and a curious person, who searches for things under the earth and in Heaven [Plato 51]. But, Socrates does not believe his views are wrong or even punishable by death.
The day of his trial, Socrates refutes his accuser 's accusations as well as he
…show more content…
The philosopher starts his refute by saying that his reputation is associated with wisdom and this trait is seen as unlawful [Plato 22]. He who has wisdom and a sense of higher knowledge, should not be punished for it. All Philosopher who taught topics that are up in the clouds are charged with the same charges every single time [Plato 24]. As mentioned before, Socrates was seen as an evil-doer and a corrupter of the youth, but Socrates countered to the jury that Meletus is a doer of evil. He makes jokes about a serious matter and is too willing to take other men to trial on accounts of topics he has no interest in whatsoever [Plato 25]. The jury starts to question Socrates and he responds with philosophical questions to get his point of view across. His questions are worded in a witty manner that only himself can understand the full extension of the question. Therefore, when the jury answers the questions it puts them in a position in which their answers are used against them. For one intense, Socrates asked Metelus, “Do not the …show more content…
the unexamined life is not worth living for man?” is Socrates asking the jury if someone 's life does not leave something behind for others, is it even worth living? He believed for a life to be fulfilled, the individual had to leave something behind for others to grasp and carry on for generations. The thing that Socrates wanted to leave behind was his wit and views. He goal was to leave a mark or impression on others so they do not forget who he was. The quote sums up why Socrates was not upset or sadden by the fact he is going to be killed for his teachings. He is going to die over what he believed in and to him this is what life is

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    What Socrates is trying explain is that justice can be more than the consequence. It is a good that will make you happier let your soul live well. It is a virtue in allowing to better the…

    • 1228 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Philosophy is important subject that impacts our history and has been wonderful tool towards many eras throughout time. Philosophy allows people to find out their true self, comprehend their living on Earth, and recognize the bonds we have with other people. Many philosophers took on these tasks and put their valuable information towards their society resulting them to documented in libraries or other resources that are preserved for future scholars. Philosophers found it challenging to get their points across their societies where they encounter conflict with political and religious groups because their statements may discriminate authority and laws. One famous philosopher who has been in this scenario that is classical Greek philosopher, Socrates where he…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Socrates Quote Analysis

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages

    This is one of my favorite quotes from Socrates and I believe that it’s really meaningful. I find this quote very interesting since, there are many ways to find a meaning for it or a way to feel identified with it. The meaning of with quote for me is, when humans do something that they have not done before and they enjoyed or really like it, and they know that they will repeat it again. Human are that way. When you find pleasure doing something you want to do it again, to feel the emotions you felt.…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Plato’s dialogue Apology, Socrates stands trail to defend himself from the accusations of “corrupting the youth” and disregarding the Gods of the state. In his speech he tells the jury that an oracle at Delphi told Chaerephon a friend of Socrates that Socrates is a man of wisdom and no man is wiser than he is. To prove this cannot be true Socrates conducts cross examinations to find someone who is wiser than he is. Through these examinations Socrates mission and main points are to help people by exposing their ignorance to find wisdom, to find virtue, to find truth and to improve the soul.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The body, while seemingly clearly definable and understandable, is a concept that humans have struggled to define and understand for much of history. Social conceptions of the mind of spirit shaped philosophers’ understandings of the relationship between the mind and body, as well as attitudes toward the body. In his essay “The Concept of the Body,” Eliot Deutsch presents readers with four popular modes of conceiving of the body. These models, popularized at different points throughout history, are the prison, the temple, the machine, and the instrument. Through reading Plato’s dialogue Phaedo, one gains perspective on Socrates’ conception of the body, as a prison.…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    (p. 20). This statement is a clue as to what Socrates personal beliefs are on acting just and with piety. With his words, he shows the court that although he does not agree with the charges, he will act as the law has been written for all of the citizens of Athens. He does not expect special treatment and his acceptance of his fate through “God wills” is that of a pious nature. The “God wills” line is sort of a slap in the face to those accusing him because, for Socrates to put his fate in Gods’ hands, it goes against the very nature of the accusations of his atheist behavior.…

    • 2276 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    From the perspective of an Athenian on the day of trial, Socrates was guilty as charged. However, Socrates was rather a thorn in the flesh to politicians and the aristocrats and charges of impiety and corrupting the youth was meant to tame his philosophical influence to the younger aristocrats including Plato-the writer of apology. However, through Plato, the writer of apology, the effect of Socrates’ philosophical thoughts reveals the rot in the Greek democracy. His…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Contradiction of Socrates Plato illustrates Socrates in two different aspects in The Apology and in The Crito, which makes the reader ponder which interpretation of Socrates is substantial and which is fictions. Precisely, Plato portrayed Socrates with many inconsistencies in The Apology the emphasis was on obeying the Gods in contrast in The Crito the emphasis was on obeying the laws of Athens. In Plato’s Apology initiates with Socrates’ defense to the Athenian court demonstrating his innocence of the charges brought against him. Socrates was accused of breaking various laws under the Athenian court, the most significant laws were corrupting the youth and believing and worshiping in different Gods that the rest of the citizens in…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    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,…

    • 934 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates Is Guilty Essay

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages

    But, there are others who believe he is innocent; for example, me and my fellow Socratics. Our Faction feels he is solely being used as an example. This assembly is passing judgment on one of the wisest citizen of all Athens. Socrates does not communicate values and ideas: he merely asks questions to his followers and begs that his speakers teach him.…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Plato's Apology Argument

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages

    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.…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates sets moral philosophy, as we understand it, in motion evaluating and focusing, on the conditions of the human soul, the meaning of life, and the path to happiness. In the Apology he reflects on his crime and as to why he is being charged with the corruption of the youth. Throughout the Apology it can become clear that though he knows he will be condemned to death, he continues to philosophize himself and the jury. Within the Apology Socrates speaks of a virtuous life, a life that is filled with knowledge and with the knowledge, that is gained one will find true happiness, “ for the unexamined life is not worth living”.…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Arguments Against Socrates

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages

    He believes that for the accusation that meletus has made you don’t take a matter for trial but you advice that person that what he is doing is wrong you don’t just go to courts because when the matter has reached court that means you want punishment. This matter is not subjected to punishment it can be resolved peacefully without anyone facing facing punishment or jail. If Socrates was corrupting the youth, the youth and their parents should have noticed and reported the matter. If this case was reported by the parents of thr youth that was taught by Socrates it would be strong bt then because it was reported by meletus it is weak.…

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He stood up for his belief in being a good man within his inner self and not materialistic objects. Socrates continued to be optimistic about life even when he had to face the jury for their final verdict about his death sentence. As he states, “understand that I will never change my ways, not even if I have to die many times,” demonstrates his bravery and loyalty to God. This philosopher has…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates defended him self by drawing attention to the fact that he has taught the anyone for many years that would listen with out fee. He even asked the court to excuse his simple mannerisms showing the fact he has never been I trouble with the law, and it was his first time ever being charged with a crime. He talks about how he has never sought public office (power) he talks about how it is society job to influence (work interest of the youth) the youth. He uses an analogy to describe how he is a horse trainer and the youth are horses and how other (society) benefit for his teachings like how to do serein tasks that benefit Athens. Socrates is sentenced to death and given multiple opportunities to escape to another county.…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays