Trial of Socrates

“Let them keep their prodigious opinion of themselves and the bare name of Aristotle, whose five syllables delight the ignorant” (Petrarca 247). From ancient times, numerous scholars have exalted Aristotle because of his various contributions to topics and debates that seem to have withstood time until the early Renaissance period. Petrarch acknowledged Aristotle’s importance, but viewed him as only human and deferred true knowledge to God. Montaigne had similar feelings, describing humans as…

The Brave and the Bold Nietzsche was a philosopher that liked to question all that people held onto. He rebelled against Christianity, the Germans, the Jewish; he just did not really like anyone. This type of philosopher is one that really wants us to question the things that we believe. This point is proven in his “Even the bravest” argument. His idea is that, “Even the bravest of us only have the bravery for what we actually know”. This is just basic Nietzsche, questioning and doubting…

Plato and Aristotle’s political philosophies are deeply based in their ontology, epistemology, and metaphysical philosophies. In this way, these philosophers’ differing views on the fitness of rule has an origin in their differing views in these more primary philosophies. As a result, in this essay, I will argue that Plato’s justification for rule by his philosopher kings on account of these philosophers’ inherently reason-governed souls that can understand the forms, especially the form of the…

of events eventually enables him to experience the ultimate beauty by the end of the novel and prove that his suffering and “madness” is in fact divinely given, in order to lead him to a greater good and higher understanding. In Plato’s Phaedrus, Socrates claims: “in certain families which have been afflicted with the severest diseases and toils from some sort of ancient blood-guilt, madness crops up and prophesies for those in need, finding deliverance. By taking refuge in prayers and service…

Stories of escaped prisoners usually do not elicit an excited response. Yet when philosophers mention Plato’s Cave Allegory, the freed prisoner becomes something to be seen as good. This story Plato tells has become a foundation for many later forms of philosophy. It has actually been so influential that it impacts the arcs of books, movies, and all types of pop culture. So what makes Plato’s Allegory of the Cave so impactful? It isn't in the story itself, but what philosophical principles he is…

In Plato’s Symposium, the characters give grand speeches about love, some giving accounts of love while others praise it. At this event, Socrates gives an account of love that once was told to him by the philosopher Diotima. She believed that the origin of love is the inherent human desire for immortality. However, Diotima’s account is inaccurate, and the true origin of love is the human desire for the company of other humans. According to Diotima’s account of love, the origin of love is a…

called, Socrates, to express his own views and opinions. Throughout the book, Socrates attempts to discover justice by examining the ideal state and the role that every citizen plays. Within this examination, Socrates establishes stern and demanding principles in order to ensure that the well-being of the entire city is always preserved. However, the deceptive and strict laws and ideas presented could mold the interpretation that Plato praises a totalitarian society. Also, through Socrates'…

yet Plato’s rational ideologies, thought process, and reason speak the loudest to me and correlate with my beliefs. The philosopher, Plato, lived in Athens and died in 428-347 B.C. Plato lived as one of Socrates pupils and wrote the words of Socrates after his death. Before his death, Socrates was Plato’s role model and influenced Plato’s ideologies and outlook on life. Plato’s passions and ideas aspired from the relationship between the soul and the physical body and the flow of nature; these…

In Plato’s philosophical text The Symposium, several characters, including Socrates, Pausanias, and Eryximachus, give speeches in praise of Love and human sexuality. Xenophon’s Symposium, on the other hand, balances seriousness (σποθδή) and playfulness (παιδία) to discuss love, desire, knowledge, and wealth (X. Sym. 1.1). Plato’s doctor, Eryximachus, establishes his medical expertise by providing medical advice, as well as his medical opinion on the nature of love. Xenophon’s Niceratus…

Section One, Intro/Offense: Jay Heinrichs points out how rhetoric is an incredibly useful skill that dates all the way back to being started by the ancient Greeks and perfected by the Romans. As time progressed in about the 19th century rhetoric increasingly became less popular and has not been a large part of education. Heinrichs would like to show to people just how important rhetoric truly is. Rhetorical arguments are all around us, as the author notices the company that makes his wrist…