"The unexamined life is not worth living. Doing what is right is the only path to goodness, and introspection and self-awareness are the ways to learn what is right." Socrates drank Hemlock and died in 399 BC. He died a hero's death because we can see how his government sentenced him to die for refusing to acknowledge their gods. He was enormously popular with the Athens people, but ruffled feathers up top with his strolling about town, willing to converse with anyone on any matters. He often made self-proclaimed smart guys look and feel stupid, just by peppering them with ordered, reasoned questions, getting them to show their errors in laying weak premises. He claimed to do this as a means of revealing Truth. He never accepted money (like the Sophists) and maintained his right to speak for the Self, even when directly threatened by heads of state (the temporary rulers, Thirty Tyrants). His Apology (as preserved by follower Plato) was not what his accusers had in mind. In Ancient Greek the word "apology" was more accurately defined as "defense" and this is indeed what he delivered. There was a trial and Socrates called it a success because he was convinced that he was a virtuous man, so nothing his enemies did to him could truly harm him, as long as he stuck to his moral guns. Socrates also expressed no fear of death. Why fear an eternity in Paradise, and why fear nothingness? He chose suicide amongst friends over execution.
Famous last words?
"Crito, I owe a cock to Asclepius; will you remember to pay the debt?"
No comments:
Post a Comment