Preview

Essay 1

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1293 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Essay 1
Essay 1
Carolyn Rudy

1. The nation is at war, and your number in the recently reinstated military draft has just come up. The problem is that, after serious reflection, you have concluded that the war is unjust. What advice might Socrates give you? Would you agree? What might you decide to do? Read the Introduction, Chapter 2 Crito and the Conclusion Chapter 40 Phaedo by Plato.
Some people think war is justified because; it is in order to counter terrorism. I think they're wrong because rather than war being the only solution my opinion is that war is the worse way to handle a conflict. I agree, that sometimes we are forced to do things we might not want to do, for example after the terrorist attack of September 11, it became inevitable for United States not to retaliate. It is logical and justifiable that the people, who are involved in those attacks directly or indirectly, must be captured and punished for killing more than 3000 people. However, I don't think that it makes war acceptable. In war, we intend to kill enemy troops, to get to dangerous leaders and avenge our own loss. Yet, we cannot have a violent, successful war without killing innocent people. If we are going to war to avenge the killing of our own citizens, think of what we are doing to them. We are going off and killing their innocent people, causing them the same pain we felt. Crito did not understand the madness of Socrates, Crito will do whatever it takes to help his friend to flee, instead of being exiled by the government. AI do not think that what you are doing is right, to give up your life when you can save it, and to hasten your fate as your enemies would hasten it, and indeed have hastened it in their wish to destroy you.@(Crito )

2. Would it have been unjust for Socrates to escape? If you think it would have been, explain your position on whether it is ever morally appropriate to disobey the law. If you think Socrates could have escaped without committing an



References: Austin W., Michael. (2006, August 21). Divine Command Theory. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved February 19, 2012 from http://www.iep.utm.edu/divine-c/. Byrne, Peter. (2007, December 4). Moral Arguments for the Existence of God. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved February 19, 2012 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-arguments-god/.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Essay 1

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages

    7. What can we learn about the relationship between Maya men and women from this sculpture? Who had more power? Why do you think that? What privileges were men allowed in the context of marriage? How did the Maya handle tension around these issues? Explain.…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    essay 1

    • 1550 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Australia’s involvement in the First World War began in the 1914, its actions representative of its support of Britain’s declaration of war. This unity is implied by the amount of men who felt duty bound to serve Britain’s interest, corresponding to 40% of men enlisted who are aged between 18 and 44. Of these amounts, 330000 men went abroad, whilst 60000 passed away and another 150000 returning with injuries (Dyster & Meredith 2012, p.96). Hence, the absence of these men during the period of Wold War One itself signifies major impacts to the Australian economy, coming in the form of a decrease in labour supply, thus triggering changes in the economy to attempt to replace these shortage. This dilemma is further compounded with the difficulties Australia experienced in its trade agreements during the war and its attempt to resolve it through import substitution, which however, triggers both positive and negative changes, hence altering the structure of the economy. Furthermore, the return of the soldiers from war, and Australia’s attempts to reabsorb them to the community also causes difficulties for Australia, which are compounded by the lack of finances involved to act upon this plan, hence straining Australia’s debt.…

    • 1550 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the article's of "Crito," by Plato, and "Letter from Birmingham Jail," by Martin Luther King, Jr., two writers make a case over whether it is moral or not to disobey laws. The question to be answered in our final paper asks whether we agree with what the Laws say about if Socrates was to escape and why we feel that way. It also asks how we think Martin Luther King would have responded to the judgment of the Laws of Athens. In this paper, I will address these questions as well as do a quick overview of each article.…

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In both Crito & Apology Plato presents Socrates’ argues clearly and succinctly. The claims and arguments constructed in the Crito ultimately lead to the conclusion that ‘a failure to persuade ones government, one must diligently obey the orders of…

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    essay 1

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hester Prynne, from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was alienated from her society for committing adultery with Reverend Dimmesdale. The bible says the man who commits adultery will suffer, and he will be in despair. Job 15:20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 says “All his days the wicked man suffers torment, ... Terrifying sounds fill his ear; ...He despairs of escaping the darkness;...Distress and anguish fill him with terror; they overwhelm him, ...because he shakes his fist at God...” Reverend Dimmesdale struggled with God throughout the whole novel, and God causes him suffering and pain.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    essay 1

    • 267 Words
    • 1 Page

    The use of implied powers changed the division of power that existed before they existed because it essentially granted the division of powers more power. Implied powers are those that are not specifically stated in the constitution, but it is assumed that if ever needed, Congress or the Supreme Court has the power to add in a rule or law when necessary. Since the Founding Father’s could not anticipate every possible problem that would arise in the following decades and centuries, they had no way of creating a rule for every possible outcome. So they incorporated the enumerated powers, or the implied powers, in the event a situation did occur that was not explicity stated and covered in the Constitution. The addition of implied powers in turn made the central, or federal government more powerful because it gives them the ability to address certain, and or unusual circumstances. Implied powers also give the federal government more power than state government because the federal government is able to rule on each different scenario at their own descretion, as long as it is justifiable. The court case that allowed the use of implied powers was McCulloch versus Maryland in 1819. Basically, the case was wheather or not the government had the right to create a second natioanl bank, and that the state of Maryland could not tax the bank. It is no where blatently stated in the Constitution that have the the government just had to create a second national bank, but with the use of implied powers under the necessary and proper clause, it was deemed as justifiable.…

    • 267 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    essay 1

    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Discuss the state of global interrelatedness as it evolved from 1914 to 1945. What were the most significant changes? Was global interrelatedness tightening or loosening in this period?…

    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    The Euthyphro Dilemma

    • 2677 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Hare, J. (2006, September 27). Religion and Morality. Retrieved from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/religion-morality/…

    • 2677 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Just War Theory

    • 1946 Words
    • 8 Pages

    What justifies war? Who justifies it? Why as human beings do we feel the need to fight, harm, and kill others to achieve certain goals? These questions have been pertinent to our society since the beginning of time and continue to challenge us to better understand the human psyche, and code of ethics that give Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines credence to kill in the name of the United States of America. These ethics of war lay the foundation for that code of understanding and righteousness for when it is justifiable to pull the trigger and take the life of another, or commit an act of war.…

    • 1946 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Soldiers Thoughts

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages

    War, is it right or wrong? This question is defiantly up for discussion. If you are a civilian, war can be something you are for, against or maybe just don’t care about. Once you have joined the military, war is your life. In a way, war is your career. You are a hired assassin, hired to protect your family, friends and this county. All while putting your personal feelings aside.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Arthur disputes the Divine Command Theory by saying that it is part of human nature to worry about simple consequences such as “will I get caught” or “what will someone think if they see me”. He points out that we often do not think about religion when making moral decisions, we just seem to know our duties.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Restricted Warfare Ethics

    • 2127 Words
    • 9 Pages

    If all the preceding conditions of Jus ad bellum and Jus in bello are met, the war is said to avoid a greater evil and is considered just. War is thus the appropriate manner of action. Nevertheless, two very different approaches argue that this is not so. First is that the “decision to wage war is governed by realism and relative strength, not ethics; morality thus has no use in war” (BBC). The second is that all war is unjust and is never ethical. Yet both of these appear illogical and irresponsible if the past and present world order is taken into…

    • 2127 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Ethics of War

    • 2322 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Currently, the world has seen a quick increase in wars across the world. What was meant to be the first century not scarred by war, quickly turned into a bloodbath in the wake of terrorist attacks in the United States and in Europe. In response to these attacks on civilian populations the United States engaged in two pre-emptive wars on those who harboured terrorists. These wars have now been ongoing for seven years and recently the number of American and other Coalition soldiers fallen on the battlefield has risen to over 4000, and the number of Iraqi civilian casualties has risen to 1,421,933. (Griffis). Recent issues that surround and greatly manipulate the world we live in makes us ask the question. How can these deaths and wars be necessary? The answer to this question is that, even though war is an indisputable evil, there are worse things on this planet than death, and in times of great adversity man has the moral responsibility to use force in the hope of greater good for humanity. The Ethics of War starts by assuming that war is…

    • 2322 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whether they believe its right, its wrong, or if they think it is all based on the situation at hand. Wars have been going on since the beginning and they are still going on today, but are they being fought for a purpose? Are they being fought due to a situation that has arisen? This essay will discuss two ethical frameworks and how they apply to the same issue. The ethical issue that will be discussed throughout this essay is that of ‘War’, and the frameworks…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Help

    • 38659 Words
    • 155 Pages

    Levinas, Emmanuel. "God and Philosophy." Emmanuel Levinas: Basic Philosophical Writings. Ed. Adriann T. Peperzak, Simon Critchley, and Robert Bernasconi. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1996. 129-48. Print.…

    • 38659 Words
    • 155 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics