Plato s The Trial And Death Of Socrates Essay - 1671 Words

Plato’s The Trial and Death of Socrates presents the reader with complex competing conceptions of what should be considered â€Å"the good life†. According to Socrates, â€Å"the most important thing is not life, but the good life† (Crito, 48b). The majority, who live a non-philosophical life, believes the goods of life include wealth, reputation, and honor: all things that can easily be taken away or destroyed. On the other hand, Socrates lives a philosophical life filled with self-sufficiency. He views wisdom, truth, and the best possible state of one’s soul as the goods of life. The plot in The Trial and Death of Socrates arises as Socrates challenges the minds of those around him. After being accused of â€Å"corrupting the young and of not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other new spiritual things†, Socrates faces the death penalty (Apology, 24b-c). The challenge the reader faces within The Trial and Death of Socrates st ands as deciding rather the philosophical or non-philosophical life serves as the flourishing life. In The Trial and Death of Socrates, â€Å"the majority† serves as the embodiment of the non-philosophical life. A flourishing life, according to the majority, revolves around the â€Å"eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation, and honors as possible† (Apology, 29e). Each of these attributes are known to bring individuals greater freedom within society. With greater freedom comes greater opportunity, hence a greater life, thereby making these â€Å"goods†Show MoreRelatedPlatos Philosophy in Apology1375 Words   |  6 PagesPHL202H5 Plato s Philosophy in Apology Plato was known to be one of Socrates students, and knew him for over 40 years. Although Plato s version of Apology is popularly believed to be (the most accurate) historical recount of what happened in 399 B.C on the day of Socrates trial, historians cannot be sure the validity of everything he wrote. It can be argued that it is actually a philosophical work, remarking on the teachings of Socrates and his beliefs, which he stood by even until hisRead MoreWhat Are The Charges Against Socrates?1019 Words   |  5 Pagesthe charges against Socrates as recorded in the Apology. Is he guilty of them? Why or why not? The Apology is assumed to be the most realistic account that has been conserved of Socrates defense of himself as it was presented before the Athenian Council. It is in essential agreement with the references to the trial that occur in Plato s other dialogs. We may determine that Apology is not written by Socrates and only contains the words of Socrates that were memorized by Plato, since he was presentRead MoreComparison Between Crito and Apology1661 Words   |  7 PagesApology For these two articles that we read in Crito and Apology by Plato, we could know Socrates is an enduring person with imagination, because he presents us with a mass of contradictions: Most eloquent men, yet he never wrote a word; ugliest yet most profoundly attractive; ignorant yet wise; wrongfully convicted, yet unwilling to avoid his unjust execution. Behind these conundrums is a contradiction less often explored: Socrates is at once the most Athenian, most local, citizenly, and patrioticRead MorePlatos Apology, Summary, Main Characters750 Words   |  3 PagesSocrates - The protagonist of The Apology, as well as all of Plato s other dialogues. Socrates seems to be a very simple man, not having many material possessions and speaking in a plain, conversational manner. However, this seeming plainness is all a part of the ironic characteristic of Socrates method. Professing his own ignorance, he engages in conversation with someone claiming to be an expert, usually in ethical matte rs. By asking simple questions, Socrates gradually reveals that his interlocutorRead MoreThe Body And The Soul1153 Words   |  5 PagesAn Analysis of the Distinctions of the Body and the Soul in the Philosophy of Socrates This philosophical study will define the distinctions of the body and the soul as defined in the philosophy of Socrates. In the Phaedo, Socrates defines the important distinction between the †visible† body and the â€Å"invisible† substance of the soul. Socrates defines the temporal and changing nature of the visible body, which is impermanent. In contrast to this view, the soul is a higher form of incomposite energyRead MoreAncient Greek Philosophy -Paper776 Words   |  4 Pagesnew way of looking at human existence. During the time of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle it was a crime to investigate the things above the heavens and below the Earth. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were well known philosophers. Their research contributed to modern science and the development of Western political thought. Socrates, born in 5th century BCE, makes a watershed in Ancient Greek philosophy. Although Socrates never wrote a book he would roam about the marketplace questioningRead MoreGreek Philosophers Bible On The Ancient World And English I2969 Words   |  12 Pages Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle s early lives affected their careers and Greek society, and their deaths and works of literature affected today s society. Socrates started out as a stone mason who eventually devoted most of his time to philosophy. Socrates works of literature reflect his world views and opinions. These opinions had a fatal consequence; he was persecuted for corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates was Plato s teacher and instructor. Plato used his works ofRead MorePlato, An Ancient Greek Philosopher1458 Words   |  6 Pages Plato, an Ancient Greek Philosopher by Carly Rittenmeyer Bible and the Ancient World Spring 2015 Plato, a Greek Philosopher, is known for his writings that impacted people in the Ancient Greek society. He was a free thinker and lived in a free city, Athens. He was taught by multiple teachers including Socrates who was frequently mentioned in his writings as the central character. Plato’s novel, The Republic, influenced the idea of government and showsRead MoreSocrates Reflection On Death1639 Words   |  7 Pages When the thought of death and what it means to die is brought into conversation, many people are rather oblivious or attempt to act so due to not knowing the truth and or how to handle such a serious matter. Regarding Plato’s subject matter, in this case, of the subjectivity in association with death and wickedness, the passage chosen is paramount to the understanding of the text because death itself leads way to how it should change our views of the world that we inhabit, along with the acceptanceRead MoreSocrates Was A Greek Philosopher And The Main Source Of Western Thought Essay928 Words   |  4 PagesSocrates was a Greek philosopher and the main source of Western thought. He was born circa 470 BC, in Athens, Greece and also through the writings of his students, Plato and Xenophon we of his life. Socrates was the son of Sophroniscus, an Athenian sculptor and stone maker, and Phaenarete, a midwife. Because he was not from a superior family, he got a basic Greek education and learned his father s craft at a young age. Before Socrates devoted his life to philosophy, it is believed he worked as