In this paper‚ I will evaluate Socrates’ argument from Phaedo for why philosophers should desire death‚ perhaps only secondly to wisdom. I will argue that Socrates unfairly characterizes the truthfulness of the senses‚ and therefore projects a pessimistic view of the philosopher’s virtue during life. This pessimism towards life in conjunction with arguments for an afterlife that liberates reason‚ seems to suggest that Socrates believes philosophers should desire death: a happy prospect for condemned
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Socrates an ancient Greek philosopher who arguably set a philosophical president for all modern western theories‚ though he lived in ___________. Today in the 21st century his trial is still studied and debated. Some belief the trial justified and the Athenians were correct in his prosecution. However‚ large populations argue that the trial was unjust and Athenians used Socrates as a scapegoat for the troubles that the Athena democracy was facing during that time. Three men brought the charges laid
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Therefore‚ for Socrates‚ no one would choose to do injustice since no one would choose what is more painful and bad. However‚ according to Vlastos‚ there is no suggestion here that the conclusion represents one of Polus’ standing convictions. Since the conclusion does not follow from anything Polus had said so far in this discussion‚ Socrates ‘mounts the above epagoge to win Polus’ acceptance of conclusion on the spot’. For Vlastos‚ Polus can reject premise 4 when Socrates tries to apply pleasure
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Socrates is known as the lover of wisdom and the lover of beauty. His speech is a response to Agathon who comically states that love is beautiful and young‚ the opposite of Socrates. Socrates inquires is love considered to be a love of something or of nothing? He compares that to how a father is a father to his children and a brother is a brother to his siblings. Socrates expresses that love’s desire suggests that one does not own what he or she loves. Socrates further explains this by giving the
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Intro: The ancient Greek Philosopher Socrates was put on trial for impiety and corrupting the youth. He has been sentenced to death for his crimes in a few days when a ship arrives back to Athens. Crito‚ one of his friends‚ argues with Socrates by telling him he should escape from prison. Socrates was reluctant to escape because of his own personal beliefs. Narration: As Crito is arguing with Socrates about escaping prison‚ he tells Socrates that he thinks it would be unjust to just subject and
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Speaking through Socrates and Meno‚ Plato attempts to confront the perplexing concepts behind what it is to have knowledge. Is there a difference between knowing something and having a correct opinion or true belief of that thing? Perhaps if our correct opinion or true belief leads us to the same accurate conclusion as one who has knowledge‚ then we are indeed knowledgable? Socrates establishes that in order to have knowledge‚ our true belief or opinion must be justified and although
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be sure many men like Socrates made every effort to discover the origin of humans morality‚ even questioning a fellow Athenian Euthyphro. Paying with his life‚ Socrates embarked on a mission to question beliefs‚ and during this time he question Euthyphro about his expertise with "piety" and "impiety." As Euthyphro claimed his morality was something he gained from the god’s definition of piety‚ and was prosecuting his father for accidentally murdering a servant‚ but Socrates argues that even the
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drastically different portrayal of the philosopher Socrates than one would inside the pages of the Republic. In the play‚ Socrates is completely unaware of his surroundings‚ and is able to justify purposely making just actions stronger than just actions. The main character‚ Strepsiades‚ initially seeks the help of Socrates because he knows Socrates will provide him with the skills to avoid paying back his debts to the city. Even though Plato’s Socrates in The Republic would probably not agree‚ the philosophic
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Socrates the great philosopher once stated‚ ‘… the unexamined life is not worth living …’. This statement echoed through the centuries to influence and inspire generations upon generations of human beings. In Plato’s Apology (Biffle & Plato‚ 2001)‚ Socrates explains what he believed was the best practice for the “greatest good” of human beings‚ examination and understanding. Socrates urged for the examination of life‚ culture‚ tradition and moral. Socrates also insisted that “I am a citizen of the
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One of the major themes that Socrates heavily focused on in his speech was the philosophical ideas of wisdom and a description of Socrates’ own wisdom as well. Older accusers had allegedly claimed that Socrates did not believe in gods‚ and instead would try to explain phenomenons through physical explanations instead‚ as well as the fact that Socrates would teach others how to make a weak argument triumph a stronger one by using clever rhetorics. In Socrates’ defense‚ he has stated that he does not
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