Virtue In Plato's Five Dialogues, And Brain On Fire

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In the beginning there was Philosophy; the never ending study of the “fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence” (Merriam-Webster). With this definition, one can begin to question the validity of all things in this fine world. When analyzing both, Plato’s Five Dialogues, and, Susannah Cahalan’s, Brain on Fire, you begin the journey of defining virtue. Virtue is a key term in the philosophical world; this is because virtue means to show high moral standards in righteousness, integrity, decency, and purity. Now, with cross-examination, these two works of art have clearly answered a fundamental question; what is virtue, and how is it carried out? In the text, Susannah Cahalan answered virtue in her race for both diagnosis and recovery, while Socrates displayed virtue in his fight for freedom from Athens. To begin, Susannah Cahalan stared the definition of virtue in the face when she was able to be diagnosed with, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, and begin her traumatic race for recovery. …show more content…
In her story, virtue was defined as dignity, honor, and integrity. Dignity was defined by Cahalan for possessing the worth to be simultaneously honored and respected for the outcome of her story. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was a rare diagnosis for most patients; Susannah was one of the few to be pronounced in America. Having this disease has shed light on the illness across the world, with survivors thanking Susannah for diagnosing them with her book. Brain on Fire is not just her story; it is also the story of those who are surviving everyday with the new technology her case has aided. As a result, she has created a high degree of popularity in hospitals, laboratories, and patients’ homes. Cahalan’s reputation defines virtue as having dignity, the ability to be honored, and the integrity to never stop fighting for her anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis cause. In continuation, Plato defines virtue in, Five Dialogues, when Socrates was trembling on the tightrope off life or death. Socrates was trialed for having been guilty of refusing to recognize the gods, introducing new divinities, and for corrupting the youth. Now, virtue was not defined by impurities and guiltiness, but instead, by the ability to remain pure and withhold integrity to the utmost highest degree. Socrates’ purity stayed consistent throughout his life because he was, in fact, a gift from the gods. Being a gift, Socrates had the responsibility of finding wisdom in all of the land. With constant setbacks, he kept his integrity by being honest and not neglecting his moral foundation. He reported to the gods with his results and often allowed followers to seek him for leadership. These followers would sometimes coincidentally be children, who were also spirits of the gods. Now, with the understanding of Socrates’ mission, you can see the mere complexity of his trial; Athens did not believe him, but virtue kept him pure from misrepresentation. He defended himself and objected to the flaws of his accusers, which did not foresee any justice. For Socrates, virtue was continued in two ways; his self-purity and his ability to emit honesty through integrity. In the essence of virtue, Socrates and Susannah both displayed virtue through a story of action and outcome. With action, they traveled down the virtuous path of righteousness, integrity, decency, and purity. Similarly, they followed the same

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