Socrates Essays Examples

The philosophical ideas of Socrates have the capability to wake up Athenians in a manner that is useful for the society. It can be considered from the fact that philosophical ideas of Socrates were meant to seek wisdom, excellence, virtue, and human excellence of highest rank. Socrates’ philosophical ideas helped Athenians to get knowledge and wisdom. Socrates played an essential role in educating youth in order to improve their moral as well as intellectual character, which provided benefit to the society. Socrates’ philosophical ideas also helped people to ponder on the importance of material goods so that they become able to make wise decision that material products are not required for happiness. Knowledge and wisdom that is promoted by Socrates assisted people to differentiate between good and bad. Socrates wanted that people should know who they were instead of asking this question from the society. He wanted that people should forget what they were taught earlier, and follow the right path of knowledge and wisdom. At the end, Athens comprised of educated population, who could make wise decisions regarding legal matters by considering rules and regulations, and laws. This ultimately helped in improving condition of the society.
The significance of being awoken justified the extreme way that Socrates selected in order to live and die. Socrates notices that majority of people did not like death, and considered it as a bad thing, and they feared from death. Socrates mentioned that death is not a thing that is evil, and fear of death should be removed as people who spent their lives in doing good things and refrain from mistakes and bad things remain successful in their lives as well as in the life hereafter. Socrates extreme manner of dying is justified as he did not want to disobey and betray his teachings and philosophy. He emphasized on being executed because he did not want to go against his principles. He considered it better to die than to stop the mission of preaching others. Further, Socrates extreme way of living is justified as he was doing the right thing, which is to teach people, give them knowledge and wisdom. He took people out of ignorance, and made them capable of taking good decisions regarding different matters. He considered his mission most important, so he opted for death instead of giving up his mission.
I agree that awakening a person or whole society from dogmatic slumbers is a positive and beneficial role of exploring philosophical questions. There is a need of Socrates’ version and philosophical ideas in every society, and in every generation so that there is someone to raise questions on certain things that are regarded as normal by the society. Majority of people accept the things as they are in the society. This is because, these things are considered as right, but they are not always righty. Some things need changes and improvement. There is, however, significant opportunity for philosophers as well as for others to play Socrates’ role everyday in the present day society. They can play their role in influencing thoughts and thinking of people so that they consider the fact that people who make attempts and change different things with the help of philosophical ideas or via other means are not warmly accepted by the society. They have to accept the facts to bring positive changes and to make life better and comfortable.