Socrates Opposites

6. “If the deathless is indestructible, then the soul, if it is deathless, would also be indestructible? - Necessarily.” (106e-107a)

Socrates explains that in his year of learning and questioning the world around him he has found that everything has a beginning and an end. However, often that end is not an end but a new beginning. Socrates explains this by illustrating how a tall man is the opposite of a short man, yet the tall man had to

Socrates beings the argument with his desire to “show that in all opposites there is of necessity a similar alternation.” by this he means that something cannot become greater without before being less. Within the process of changing from one opposite to another there are intermediates which are the agents of change. The

The problem with Socrates concerns the problem with the role of value and reason. Nietzsche believes that the bulk of philosophers claim that life is a corrupt grievance for mankind. Nietzsche reasoned that these life deniers were decadents of Hellenism, as a symptom of some underlying melancholy. For someone to paint life in such a negative light they must have suffered a great deal through the course of their own life. Furthermore, these no-sayers agreed in various physiological ways and thus adopted the same pessimistic attitudes towards life. Socrates was ugly, alike decadent criminals and by ways of these similarities was decadent as well. Nietzsche also claims ugliness as a physiological symptom of life in its decline supported by studies in phenology.

Will you choose to stick with your values and principals when facing death? It has been a month since Socrates was put in prison waiting for his execution. Socrates’s execution took long because a state galley had set out on a religious mission that took place annually, and the law was to never allow any executions until the state galley returns. Socrates was sentenced to death after he was found guilty in not believing in the Gods and also corrupting the young children. When the ship was about to arrive, Crito, Socrates’s old faithful friend, arrives early to where they held Socrates. The guard allows Crito to see Socrates because he offered them a bribe. Crito becomes surprised on how Socrates remains calm even when facing a death sentence.

In my primary source, Socrates’ View of Death, Socrates talks about death. As the source states, “For the state of death is one of two things: either the dead man wholly ceases to be and loses all sensation; or according to common belief, it is a change and a migration of the soul

There is no doubt to the fact that Socrates and Martin Luther King Jr. had similar characteristics—whether it be their willingness to make the public aware or their passion to do what was right to them. But to say that Martin Luther King Jr. is a twentieth century Socrates does not seem fit to par. The way I will attempt for you to understand this will proceed as follows: I will first explain each of our character’s stories, perhaps heavily implicating some of their most distinct characteristics that can be discovered from the text. I will proceed to include their similarities, as well as their differences. Then I will attempt to explain both subjects’ profession/title, and comment on how the two may have similar things they want to

Socrates believes that he is an individual who had the potential to accomplish extraordinary feats due to his unique set of traits. He claims, “If they were of any use, Crito, the many would be able to do the greatest evils, and so they would also be able to do the greatest goods, and that would be fine. But as it is they can do neither, since they cannot make a man either wise or foolish” (Crito, 44d). Only certain people have the capacity to complete enormous feats, and those people are not average citizens of the state. Instead, they must have qualities that set them apart from the rest of the population. Furthermore, “it is reputed at least that Socrates is distinguished from the many human beings in some way” (The Apology, 34e).

A philosophical attitude toward life should play a major part in our lives. It is crucial for us as humans to learn and accept lessons learned through the experience of life. If you do not “examine your life” then what do you learn and what do you gain? Socrates’ in “The Trial and Death of Socrates” he details this in many ways. We can pull all the evidence and ideas we need from this text written by Plato. In the 3 parts Euthyphro, Apology and Crito many conclusions are made and there is much to learn from this text. Some of the most important parts allude to this idea of living life with a philosophical attitude. The book begins with the search for the definition of piety. In the apology Socrates’ details his side of the argument showing everyone the power of his own ideas and that is proved by his execution and finally in the Crito his commitment to his way of life is the last point that Socrates’ made. This text is chalked full of life lessons but the most important is the one that urges people to live their lives while never stopping to learn and think.

Socrates in this section does put forth a compelling argument if you agree to all of the terms in his premises. I would first like to ponder what he means by the term ‘opposites’. Although, smaller and larger are comparative states, it does not seem convincing that being asleep and being awake area or being dead and being alive are. Even though the processes of becoming larger or smaller are logical; I can concede something can be a bit larger or a bit smaller; they can come from each other and are opposites. One can make the same object bigger and smaller and there is variation and comparison there however, you cannot make something a little bit dead or a little bit alive, it is either one or the other. Additionally, you cannot go back and

Socrates 's (Plato 's) Principle of Opposites states that "the same thing cannot do or undergo opposite things; not, at any rate, in the same respect, in relation to the same thing, at the same time." (436c) This is significant because it allows him to provide an avenue for proving that the soul contains more than one part via the use of internal conflict. He states that if an instance of opposites should occur, it would not be because the same thing was influenced in two opposing ways simultaneously, but because multiple things of a similar type were being influenced. He uses a top to illustrate. A top has two axes, and the top can be in motion in one way while remaining still in the other (436e). It cannot both be moving and still in the vertical sense, nor can it be both moving and still in the horizontal (he calls it circumference), but it can be moving in one way while still in the other. Thus, the top spins, but doesn 't waver or move around (436e). He moves the example into the realm of agency. This principle of opposities applies also to the archer, he says, whose one hand is pulling and the other pushing in order to launch the arrow (439c).

Socrates spent his time questioning people about things like virtue, justice, piety and truth. The people Socrates questioned are the people that condemned him to death. Socrates was sentenced to death because people did not like him and they wanted to shut him up for good. There was not any real evidence against Socrates to prove the accusations against him. Socrates was condemned for three major reasons: he told important people exactly what he thought of them, he questioned ideas that had long been the norm, the youth copied his style of questioning for fun, making Athenians think Socrates was teaching the youth to be rebellious. But these reasons were not the charges against him, he was charged with being an atheist and

Athenian citizens, I implore you to understand Socrates guilt within the matter of impiety. Impiety is lacking respect for a god or gods. Actions or words that go against the status quo of religious activity would certainly fall under the category of impious behavior. This includes the unnamed “divine” voice within Socrates head. Those that accused him may not have done so for the right reasons, but it does nothing to prove he is innocent of impiety.

The accusers, Meletos, Anytos, and Lycon, are all young and trying to make a name for themselves. They begin by telling everyone not to be deceived and to take caution because Socrates is a “clever speaker”. According to Socrates, the difference between him and his accusers is that he speaks the truth. He is on trial for two items, which include, corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates tells everyone that he has no experience with the court and he will speak the way he is used to by being honest and direct. Socrates explains that his behavior is from the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.      

Socrates is known in today’s world as one of the greatest philosophers in history. Born in 469 BC just outside of Athens, Socrates was properly brought up and thoroughly educated, he developed both physical and mental strengths. Socrates spent time with the philosopher Archelaus, where he studied astronomy, mathematics, and was introduced to philosophy. Archelaus taught with a scientific approach. Socrates turned from this approach and created his own. He decided instead of trying to understand the universe, he would try to understand himself. Socrates spent many days in the Athens marketplace where he became skilled in the art of arguing.