The First Advocate for Free Speech – Socrates The precise facts about how and why the great Greek philosopher Socrates was sentenced and executed remains one of the biggest puzzles in history‚ even to this day. Socrates lived and philosophized in Athens‚ which is said to be the ancient model for a democracy. Yet‚ it seems like the Athenians sentenced to death a respected member of their society for speaking his mind and standing by his principles. Now how democratic is that? What makes the
Premium Socrates Plato
Socrates was born circa 470 B.C in Athens. He was a Greek philosopher and laid the groundwork for Western philosophy. He was the inspiration for Plato who later on became the inspiration for Aristotle. He believed that we should ask questions and look for the truth. Socrates was best known for his book Plato Republic‚ and in one of his books he gave the example of the teacher as the midwife. This metaphor was a great way to show what Socrates believed was the best way to help his students. Socrates
Premium Plato Philosophy Socrates
Socrates on Democracy Socrates makes it very clear; he is not a fan of Democracy. He is openly objected to the type of democracy that Athens was running during his adult life. In contrast he was against all forms of government at the time. Socrates believes in the connection between virtue and knowledge. The masses‚ being uneducated‚ were therefore not virtuous and not fit to rule. Democracy is the rule of people‚ and as a group people are very indecisive so we end up trying to have everything
Premium Democracy
According to Plato’s Socrates in the Republic‚ justice in the ideal city consists in the fact that each ‘individual of the city should practice a single role to which their nature is most suited‚ among those relative to the city’(433a). For brevity‚ let us refer to this definition of justice as the principle of specialization. Socrates motivates this theory of justice with four clear arguments: (1) The theory fits with their society’s typical ways of thinking about justice: ‘minding one’s own business’(433ab);
Premium Plato Political philosophy Justice
Socrates & the Afterlife Socrates & the Afterlife “When I have drunk the poison I shall leave you and go to the joys of the blessed…” (Plato‚ p.67) In his final hours‚ as written in Plato’s Phaedo‚ Socrates spoke of death and the afterlife while awaiting his execution. Socrates was tried and convicted of two charges: corrupting the youth and impiety (blasphemy)‚ he was imprisoned and sentenced to death. According to his final words‚ Socrates does not seem to fear death but instead sees it as a
Premium Socrates Hell Soul
Death of Socrates” – Extra-credit The Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David is a perfect example of a neoclassical painting. As a characteristic of this time‚ the author focuses on symmetry and on the characters’ faces to tell the story. Jacques Louis David uses a smooth texture in his composition and primary bright colors predominantly in the disciples’ robes. It is a secular piece of art that represents a historical moment‚ the death of Socrates‚ a Greek philosopher‚ known as one of the wisest
Premium Neoclassicism Jacques-Louis David
discuss Socrates notions‚ I would like to discuss two various points which consist of the significance and difference between an unexamined life and an examined life. As stated by Socrates‚ collectively‚ our unexamined lives create the ills of society. In other words‚ when one does things right‚ he would usually think that he reached the perfection; he would barely assume that his life is irreproachable and there is no need to correct or change the way it is. And this thought would make one easily
Premium Meaning of life
In the trial of Socrates I am going to show that the defendant is not guilty on the first charge of corrupting the youth. My justifications for this vote are as follows. Socrates didn’t corrupt the youth‚ he just shared his ideas with them and they in turn chose the path to take these ideas. Part of understanding this case is understand the time in which the case was held. This time being 399 B.C.‚ a time in which Athens was a free democratic city‚ a town that prided itself at the time on
Premium Democracy Truth Education
Socrates believed the most important task‚ in life‚ was to care for ones soul. Socrates argues that the soul is immortal and that we must rise above our physical nature in order to gain true knowledge. He believed the soul was our very essence‚ and our bodies the instrument utilized in dealing with the physical world. Socrates seemed confidant that human beings survive physical death‚ therefore possessing an immortal soul. He felt a philosophers concern was not with the body but with the soul and
Premium Soul Socrates Immortality
honesty or we develop it? Socrates: if someone were to walk up to you and ask‚” What is honesty?”‚ what would you reply the person? Meno: honesty is a moral character which triggers positive attributes such as truthfulness‚ straightforwardness‚ being fair and sincere. Socrates: What if a person possesses only one of those attribute but not the other‚ does the person still qualify as honest? Meno: in some cases‚ the person might still be regarded as honest. Socrates: How would you regard someone
Premium Plato Truth Virtue