Post-Tyrany Socrates

What is passed down as history – in addition to formative cultural practices – is the cornerstone for all political and socioeconomic structure in society, both past and present. This relationship between the structure of a state and the substance of its people’s beliefs is evident across both traditions and time. Beginning with an open view of human functioning lends itself to be most constructive while investigating this relationship, which is viewing humans as more introspective beings looking for an explanation of human nature. Woven across the cultures studied this semester the theme of a more stable society existing at a time when that society’s institutions reflect individual’s higher levels of developed thinking, can be identified.
As Socrates is being attacked for introducing new ideas and creating a new deity, an underlying problem exists within the structure of the state. According to Socrates the current government has grown too large and is, “a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life.” (Apology, 30e) Following success against the tyrants the state has grown too full of itself. They have closed themselves to the possibility that someone outside of their ranks could have ideas of greater value than their own. The human vice of lazy comfortableness, which Socrates attempts to disturb in the Athenian society, is a direct result of a state government who is satisfied to remain powerful in a worldly sense. Socrates pushes the government to evolve into a better state by getting people to look more introspectively and disregard the importance traditionally put on things like social status, money, and property. During this time in Athenian society when the leaders of the state were more closed to the idea of philosophical thinking and introspection of human nature the society was less stable. The structure with which the society governed itself was weakened by its resistance to the concept of living an examined
Disputing such an entrenched way of life and structure, such as that of the Romans, with a young religion proved to be both difficult and frustrating for Paul. For Paul bringing the message of the messianic identity of Jesus to the people of Corinth was important, as well as how this message produced a societal shift in those who followed it. Paul emphasized the social consequences of believer’s actions and urged people to be wary of how their knowledge affects their brothers, “Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin.” (1 Corinthians, 8:13) Despite the neutral moral and social implications within the Roman world there is a disparity between the Christian view that eating meat that has passed through pagan ceremonies is harmful. Working with the basic understanding of shame and pride Paul touches upon issues such as sexual immorality, marriage and virginity, and the covering of women’s heads during prayer. While these issues are not directly affecting the Roman society as a whole they shape how early Christians fit into society while still working to abide by these new ideas. As the difference between the thoughts of the Romans and those of the Christians grew, so did the tensions between them. Eventually