¶ … Socrates' speech in Plato's Apology. It is this author's opinion that Socrates' position that the unexamined life is not worth living has validity. We will see that this is the case as we examine Socrates' spontaneous oration regarding virtue and how it can not be learned. Obviously, if the lives of these youths had been virtuous, then it might have been possible for them to learn this character trait and to prove Socrates wrong. This is the case because only when someone examines their life do they shake off their bigotry and raise their awareness to a higher level.
As alluded to in the introduction, Socrates is correct that the unexamined life is not worth living. This is because only those people who struggle to resolve the contradictions in their life have an existence that is real. Those who do not are at best ignorant and at worst bigots who hate knowledge.
For this reason, one must look at the context of the Apology, in which the claim that the unexamined life is not worth living arises. This is in the context of the trial against Socrates which is based upon his being accused of heresy in corrupting the youth and therefore committing treason against the gods by unbelief. This is why he rejects the alternative of exile rather than death as a punishment (Plato).
However, if he did the above, he would have undermined everything that he had stood for. He firmly believed that anyone was capable of leading a significant and meaningful type of existence by way of the examination of his or her own ideas and life thoroughly. Socrates was wise because he never accepted something as a truth that was related to him unless he found evidence himself to back the statement up for himself. In this is the kernel of what made Socrates wise for he related "Well, although I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better...
Socrates and the Apology Socrates and Death in the Apology In The Apology, Socrates contrasts his ability to address the crowd against more skillful speakers stating that he offers truth over eloquence (17b). In essence, he infers that others use the power of persuasion and slick words to sway others vs. The truth. He postulates that there are others who will always present a skewed depiction of the facts in order to
He even goes so far as to say that if in death he can talk with Orpheus, Musaeus, Homer and Hesiod, death will be worth it. He says, "Nay, if this be true, let me die again and again." One of the most profound statements that Socrates offers to his true "judges" is that nothing bad can happen to a good man, so they should not worry about him. "…no
A philosopher makes "logoi," discusses, and cross examines about virtue, is short of wisdom, and is aware of it. However, in as much as one is a philosopher, one desires wisdom and searches for it. In historical Greek, this notion is virtually a tautology, prompting Socrates to hold that the wise no longer philosophize. Socrates believes that philosophy is gathering knowledge; however, going by valid evidence, philosophy is the
Socrates is one of the most renowned philosophers of all times. His dialectic method is used in a number of ways and has vital importance in literature and deliberation. In the contemporary era, Socratic or Dialectic Method is the term that is used to point out a conversation between two or more people who might have opposing views about an issue but they come to a conclusion after trying to
Socrates The main themes of Plato's Apology are the great irony of many of Socrates' claims, his use of the Socratic method of teaching, and his surprising strategy of questioning the fundamental validity of his trial itself, rather than putting on a vigorous and elegant defense of his actions as was expected by both his supporters and detractors, and likely by the people of the jury. Plato's Apology is a detailed
In short, Socrates saw the elimination of ignorance as the first step that would lead people to become virtuous. As a result, he created a technique for testing knowledge by argument and questioning that became known as "the Socratic method." Basically, through an ironic mockery of words, Socrates mocks everyone present by mocking himself. He was the wisest man, he says, because he was the only one who understood he
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