Mar

27

Socrates’ good friend Plato

Philosophy

Plato is to most, the best source of information about Socrates, as he seemed to understand him best, for Plato was a philosopher himself. He was forty years younger than Socrates, and much of his beliefs, and theories where discovered due to Socrates help. He was one of many of Socrates students, but he was probably the most devoted. He seemed to grasp the way that Socrates mind worked; I don’t feel that this is something that the average Joe could accomplish. His believes often coincided with Socrates’ although many of them seemed to evolve later in Plato’s life. Plato became the conduit in which Socrates ideas lived on.

Plato’s dialogues were divided into three categories, the early dialogues, the middle, and late. These were separated by the time in Plato’s life when he wrote them, it seems the early dialogues would render the clearest picture of Socrates, as some of the later dialogues seemed to be infused with his own thoughts and ideas, and Socrates became a mouthpiece for them in his writings.

Among the early dialogues is Euthyphyro, in which Socrates and Euthyphyro are conversing on the porch of King Archon. During this they are speaking of piety, and what it means to be pious, and why someone would want to be pious. These dialogues, as well as many other early ones, such as Loches, Charmides, and Lysis seem to show the way that Socrates used a form of questioning to search for knowledge, or some sort of understanding. It seems like he instinctively understood what was right, but he knew he could not tell anyone what to do, they had to discover it on their own. These dialogues showed how to look at the world from another perspective; we can uncover much truth that we did not already know.

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Mar

15

The influnce of the Delphic Oracle on Socrates as Plato describes

Philosophy / Random

The Delphic oracle was understood in ancient Greece to be able to transmit the voice of God, and she became very influential in Socrates life when she told his friend Chaerephon that no one is wiser than Socrates. Some people could take this lightly, but Socrates certainly did not, he made it his life duty to expand his wisdom, and even more so his truth. He believed that what the oracle was stating was that he was the wisest because he was aware of his own ignorance, or lack of knowledge. All those that claimed to have knowledge, were in fact ignorant of their ignorance.

Socrates believed, and so stated that Apollo chose him to be an investigator, and to teach virtue. He told the jurors that everything he does is in accordance with what Apollo asked of him, and his death would be offense against Apollo. He stated that he was not an atheist, since he believed Apollo himself called him wise, through the mouth of the oracle. Many of these statements seemed to win much of the Juries praise as there was little difference between those for the vote of guilty. It seemed many people had faith in Socrates statements, although they may have disliked the uncomfortable thoughts, and feelings his questioning brought about.

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Jan

03

Plato’s allegory of the cave and the idea that what we often assume to be reality is often an illusion

Philosophy

Plato’s work The Republic presents the allegory of the cave, which is a dialogue between Socrates, and Plato’s brother Glaucon. This dialogue has great significance, especially in today’s world. Socrates explains that if someone is locked up in a cave, and only was to see a rock wall, with occasional shadows, and hear occasional echoes that would become their reality. They would know nothing else, and become accustom to that life, and any attempts to remove them from what we would perceive as imprisonment would be difficult. Even if removed, they would eventually acclimate themselves to most of the world, but would still not be comfortable unless back in the environment they are accustomed to.

This seems to symbolize the struggle many people go through between truth, and confusion. Although it may not be virtuous, ignorance is bliss. So many people choose to remain ignorant, as they feel that this is where they be most happy, and it is often most comfortable. So many people choose to live in a sort of fabricated reality, living like puppets on a string, this may be easy, but that does not make it right.

The darkness seems to symbolize ignorance, and the cave seems to symbolize the limited life that many of us live, confined by laws, religions, and customs. In contrast the light seems to symbolize truth, and the rest of the world seems to symbolize the limitlessness of possibilities, and experiences in comparison to the confinement we are raised in. The majority of us are born into a cave, and most never realize that we are in it, because any glimpse of light is more difficult than most are willing to bear.

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Jul

20

Socrates’ views about death as these are outlined in Plato’s Apology and in the Phaedo.

Philosophy

Socrates had very unorthodox views about death, especially for his time. Much of these were depicted in Plato’s Apology, and the Phaedo. Plato’s Apology showed Socrates views on death at the time of his trial one month before his actual death, and the Phaedo was a dialogue one hour before his death, and his views were consequently different.

Socrates almost welcomed death, as outlined in the Apology, he definitely did not attempt to escape it. As reflected in the Apology Socrates refused to pay a fine, be imprisoned, to move, or change his ways, basically in stating this he was saying the only way to stop him would be to kill him. After the vote of death by the jury Socrates maintained his composure, and courage, he addressed the jury, and stated that at the age of 70 he did not fear death; he believed that it was either an end, and thus good, or a immortality, and thus even better in his eyes. He also welcomed the idea of being able to further his search, and continue on his work. He maintained that he would not beg, or plea out of principle and righteousness.

Socrates mind set seemed to change slightly in the month after to his trial, as reflected in a Phaedo. His ideas, and beliefs about death seem to have been further developed, as he no longer question what would happen when he died; he believed that death is merely a separation of the body and the soul. He also stated that he has been preparing for this day, as he stated philosophy is a preparation and practice for death. He was said to have stated that philosophy prepares the soul for a separation of the body, that which is death. These ideas did not seem to be present at his trial, although there were some actions that hinted towards that.

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