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Write an essay on the relation between socrates' descritption of the life of the philosopher and his own attitude to hid imminent death,in 1200 words.
Because of corruption and injustice in Athens Socrates is condemed to die,despite
his eloquent explanation in The Apology.His friends and family react to this situation with
sorrow and despair(his wife is so grief-stricken that she is told to leave).yet Socrates
remains calm and collected.Although we may marvel at his seemingly remarkable composure ,it
becomes less startling when we consider his life spent as a philosopher,and the resulting
attitude he has to all things in life,including death.Indeed we should see his state of mind
in the moments before his death as the culmination of his life as a philosopher,and the
natural result of his philosophising.In understanding Socrates' attitude to his fast
approaching death,it is neccesary to consider the nature of philosophy itself and the
particular effect it has had on Socrates.
For Socrates ,as for any true philosopher,philosophy is not merely a hobbie to pass the time,but a way of life.The philosophic life is dedicated to the pursiut of truth(Dilman p13).It is this search for truth that prompts Socrates to be the gad-fly of athenian society,demanding of Athenians"what is truth?what is beauty?what is justice?"etc.It is this incessant questioning that results in his death sentence.The pursuit of truth neccitates an attitude in the philosopher,which does not restrict the attention of the philosopher to one particular subject matter,but to everything,to the whole of life(Dilman p14).Hence,Socrates is not fazed when forced to deal with his mortality or the nature of life and death, becuase in the course of his life as a philosopher he has strugged with these immense questions,indeed he has actively sought them out and vigourously atempted to answer them. this factor does much to account for his attitude about his death.
The life of the philosopher demands the struggle with aforementioned big questions,which may appear impossible to get to grips with.However,Socrates,like any philosopher has a methodolgy to deal with these philosophical probelms in an organised and calm way.In the same way he approached the hypothetical issues during hisnlife time,so he uses the same techniques of reason,logic and clearheadedness in facing his immediate circumdstances.THis accounts for his composure ,as anyone who has been in a sticky situation can attest,a methodical plan does much to maintain control of ones emotions,and preside over panic.His methodology can be seen in the Phaedo and in tThe Crito ,in his discussions with his students and friends.He asks questions,and then follows the logical progressions of the arguments,to reach his conclusions.
Dilman argues that to struggle with the philosophic difficulties one must struggle with oneself(p21).As a philopsher Socrates has had his whole ,long life to come to terms with himself.NOw facing death,in terms of a judgement day scenario(and socrates does believe in reincarnation ,based on behaviour in this life)he is confident in the character of his soul.He associates spiritual purification with the pursuit of pure knowlegde,which he has engaged with compleely during his life as a philosopher.The pursuit of philosophy purifies the soul(Dilman p21)so Socrates believes in the purity of his soul,hence his clean conscience and attitude in facing death.
The peace of mind demonstrated by Socrates is not unique to philosophers.Similar displays of courage and unflappability can be found throughout history.Padraig pearse managed to compose poetry for his mother on the eve of his executin,and Robert Emmet made an eloquent speech ,just moments before he was hanged .Christian martyrs,presecuted within the Roman Empire from around 150ad , were comparably unruffled when facing death.Justin Martyr(died 165) told the soldiers about to execute him "you can kill us but you can't hurt us"(Backman,p34).Although superficially the circumstances of these men's death are very differnt ,they share an unwavering belief in a cause,whether the pursuit of truth,the achievement of an Irish republic or the Kingdom of God.In sense Socrates is a martyr.Not because of fame and glory ,but in the quiet confidence and satisfaction with his life as a philosopher,,hence his attitude to his death.
Socrates' life as a philosopher has allowed him to conclude in the infinite nature and indestructibiltity of the soul,a belief which relates directly to his attitude to his imminent death.In considering death a widespread fear amongst many people is the prospect of oblivion.Socrates,confident in his interpreatition of the nature of the soul,has no such qualms.He justifies this belief in a conversation with Cebes(the phaedo 69e-72b).he bases it on te rule of opposites,which claims that everything has an opposite,and is generated from that opposite and from no other source.Hence,just as sleeping come from waking and vice versa,so lving come from death,and death from living.this demands that the soul exists beyond this world,into the next.Socrates' theory of recollection furthur reinforeces this idea for him.the theory of recollection propeses that all learining is actually just recollectin what our souls knew before.So the soul must have existed before this life,in order to acquire the knowlegde we later recollect.Socrates also believes that the gods are our keepers ,and that we,humankind,are their possessions.This furthur strenghtens his unflinching attitude to his impending death.His religious beliefs ,arising from his life as a philosopher,have a profound effect on his attitude to his death.Indeed it is in the nature of philosophy,that it is comparable to religion or mraolity in that it has the potential to inform and change the individual's attitude to the whole of one's life(Dilman p14).
In examining the relation between the life of the philosopher and Socrates' attitude to his death,until this point his death has been treated as an unfortunate calamity that Socrates must deal with.However,Socrates sees his pursuit of philosophy and truth as preparation for and anticipation of his death and states that "a man who had really devoted his life to philosophpy should be cheerful in the face of death and confidentin finding the greatest blessing in the next world when his life is finished." (The Phaedo 62e-64a).Although we may be incredulous of this staement ,at first ,as Simmias was,Socrates clarifies his position so that we too must recognise the truth of his statement.
Death,he believes is merely the "release of the soul from the body".The life of the philosopher demands the deatchment of the philosopher from bodily pleasures ,such as food,drink,sleep,sex etc.THe importance of these enjoyments must be dismissed in favour of the pursuit of truth."A man of this kind (a philosopher) is not concerned with the body but keeps his attentions directed as much as he can away from it and towards the soul"(The Phaedo ,64b-65c)Furthurmore the qualities of absolute uprightness,absolute truth and absolute beauty cannot be apprehended by the senses.Indeed pursuit of them is only hindered by the distractions of the the senses.Socrates opines that"if we are to ever have pure knowlegde of anything we must get rid of the body and contemplate things by themselves".We must now admit that there is no better separation of body and soul than that achieved through death itself.So death becomes,not a lametable injustice ,but a unique oppurtunity to take a giant leap closer to the apprehension of the truth.Any distress at the prospect of death indicates love of the body over love of wisdom,and is therefore not the attitude of the true philosopher.
Because of his belief in the indetructibility of the soul,the nobility in his unwavering search for the truth during his lifetime,and eagerness to continue that quest post-humusly,all by-products of his life as philopher Socrates can face his death with good humour,enthusiasm,a still heart and a satisfied mind.
The End!!!
Write an essay on the relation between socrates' descritption of the life of the philosopher and his own attitude to hid imminent death,in 1200 words.
Because of corruption and injustice in Athens Socrates is condemed to die,despite
his eloquent explanation in The Apology.His friends and family react to this situation with
sorrow and despair(his wife is so grief-stricken that she is told to leave).yet Socrates
remains calm and collected.Although we may marvel at his seemingly remarkable composure ,it
becomes less startling when we consider his life spent as a philosopher,and the resulting
attitude he has to all things in life,including death.Indeed we should see his state of mind
in the moments before his death as the culmination of his life as a philosopher,and the
natural result of his philosophising.In understanding Socrates' attitude to his fast
approaching death,it is neccesary to consider the nature of philosophy itself and the
particular effect it has had on Socrates.
For Socrates ,as for any true philosopher,philosophy is not merely a hobbie to pass the time,but a way of life.The philosophic life is dedicated to the pursiut of truth(Dilman p13).It is this search for truth that prompts Socrates to be the gad-fly of athenian society,demanding of Athenians"what is truth?what is beauty?what is justice?"etc.It is this incessant questioning that results in his death sentence.The pursuit of truth neccitates an attitude in the philosopher,which does not restrict the attention of the philosopher to one particular subject matter,but to everything,to the whole of life(Dilman p14).Hence,Socrates is not fazed when forced to deal with his mortality or the nature of life and death, becuase in the course of his life as a philosopher he has strugged with these immense questions,indeed he has actively sought them out and vigourously atempted to answer them. this factor does much to account for his attitude about his death.
The life of the philosopher demands the struggle with aforementioned big questions,which may appear impossible to get to grips with.However,Socrates,like any philosopher has a methodolgy to deal with these philosophical probelms in an organised and calm way.In the same way he approached the hypothetical issues during hisnlife time,so he uses the same techniques of reason,logic and clearheadedness in facing his immediate circumdstances.THis accounts for his composure ,as anyone who has been in a sticky situation can attest,a methodical plan does much to maintain control of ones emotions,and preside over panic.His methodology can be seen in the Phaedo and in tThe Crito ,in his discussions with his students and friends.He asks questions,and then follows the logical progressions of the arguments,to reach his conclusions.
Dilman argues that to struggle with the philosophic difficulties one must struggle with oneself(p21).As a philopsher Socrates has had his whole ,long life to come to terms with himself.NOw facing death,in terms of a judgement day scenario(and socrates does believe in reincarnation ,based on behaviour in this life)he is confident in the character of his soul.He associates spiritual purification with the pursuit of pure knowlegde,which he has engaged with compleely during his life as a philosopher.The pursuit of philosophy purifies the soul(Dilman p21)so Socrates believes in the purity of his soul,hence his clean conscience and attitude in facing death.
The peace of mind demonstrated by Socrates is not unique to philosophers.Similar displays of courage and unflappability can be found throughout history.Padraig pearse managed to compose poetry for his mother on the eve of his executin,and Robert Emmet made an eloquent speech ,just moments before he was hanged .Christian martyrs,presecuted within the Roman Empire from around 150ad , were comparably unruffled when facing death.Justin Martyr(died 165) told the soldiers about to execute him "you can kill us but you can't hurt us"(Backman,p34).Although superficially the circumstances of these men's death are very differnt ,they share an unwavering belief in a cause,whether the pursuit of truth,the achievement of an Irish republic or the Kingdom of God.In sense Socrates is a martyr.Not because of fame and glory ,but in the quiet confidence and satisfaction with his life as a philosopher,,hence his attitude to his death.
Socrates' life as a philosopher has allowed him to conclude in the infinite nature and indestructibiltity of the soul,a belief which relates directly to his attitude to his imminent death.In considering death a widespread fear amongst many people is the prospect of oblivion.Socrates,confident in his interpreatition of the nature of the soul,has no such qualms.He justifies this belief in a conversation with Cebes(the phaedo 69e-72b).he bases it on te rule of opposites,which claims that everything has an opposite,and is generated from that opposite and from no other source.Hence,just as sleeping come from waking and vice versa,so lving come from death,and death from living.this demands that the soul exists beyond this world,into the next.Socrates' theory of recollection furthur reinforeces this idea for him.the theory of recollection propeses that all learining is actually just recollectin what our souls knew before.So the soul must have existed before this life,in order to acquire the knowlegde we later recollect.Socrates also believes that the gods are our keepers ,and that we,humankind,are their possessions.This furthur strenghtens his unflinching attitude to his impending death.His religious beliefs ,arising from his life as a philosopher,have a profound effect on his attitude to his death.Indeed it is in the nature of philosophy,that it is comparable to religion or mraolity in that it has the potential to inform and change the individual's attitude to the whole of one's life(Dilman p14).
In examining the relation between the life of the philosopher and Socrates' attitude to his death,until this point his death has been treated as an unfortunate calamity that Socrates must deal with.However,Socrates sees his pursuit of philosophy and truth as preparation for and anticipation of his death and states that "a man who had really devoted his life to philosophpy should be cheerful in the face of death and confidentin finding the greatest blessing in the next world when his life is finished." (The Phaedo 62e-64a).Although we may be incredulous of this staement ,at first ,as Simmias was,Socrates clarifies his position so that we too must recognise the truth of his statement.
Death,he believes is merely the "release of the soul from the body".The life of the philosopher demands the deatchment of the philosopher from bodily pleasures ,such as food,drink,sleep,sex etc.THe importance of these enjoyments must be dismissed in favour of the pursuit of truth."A man of this kind (a philosopher) is not concerned with the body but keeps his attentions directed as much as he can away from it and towards the soul"(The Phaedo ,64b-65c)Furthurmore the qualities of absolute uprightness,absolute truth and absolute beauty cannot be apprehended by the senses.Indeed pursuit of them is only hindered by the distractions of the the senses.Socrates opines that"if we are to ever have pure knowlegde of anything we must get rid of the body and contemplate things by themselves".We must now admit that there is no better separation of body and soul than that achieved through death itself.So death becomes,not a lametable injustice ,but a unique oppurtunity to take a giant leap closer to the apprehension of the truth.Any distress at the prospect of death indicates love of the body over love of wisdom,and is therefore not the attitude of the true philosopher.
Because of his belief in the indetructibility of the soul,the nobility in his unwavering search for the truth during his lifetime,and eagerness to continue that quest post-humusly,all by-products of his life as philopher Socrates can face his death with good humour,enthusiasm,a still heart and a satisfied mind.
The End!!!