Introduction
Socrates was a classical eccentric philosopher in the ancient Greek. He was born in Athens and lived between the years 469 B.C.E to 399 B.C.E. He was born in a humble family; his father was a mason and his mother a midwife. He lived during a period when the world was morally uninformed, and eternal truth was disregarded. He studied philosophy and used this knowledge to question people’s illogical reasoning and injustice during social gatherings. He was condemned of corrupting the young people and criticizing democracy in governance and authority given to the religious system.
Socrates formed a basis for today’s philosophy. Therefore, he was not an enemy of the state. In my opinion, an enemy is a person who is destructive, dangerous, hostile and hateful. An enemy is a person whose presence in society disrupts their peace and unity. A state refers to a condition of political, social, cultural, and religious believes at a time. Socrates did not dislike those who had a different opinion. He did not teach rebellion against the existing political, religious and governance believes. He used his philosophical concepts to provoke people to think. He did not forcefully impose his views to the state, and he did not consider people with a different opinion as his rivals. Therefore, he was not an enemy of the state because he influenced people’s thinking in a friendly manner.
1. What is your initial point of view?
He was a friendly man who in the process of questioning the unreasonable and injustice way of thinking, he was also willing to learn from his critics. Although he had served in the military and was commended on accomplishing his tasks successfully, Socrates did not defend his beliefs and opinion forcefully. He did not use weapons to defend himself from his rivals. An enemy does not believe in justice, but Socrates did. He believed injustice should not be paid with injustice (Crito, 44b). Socrates determination to teach people philosophical thinking was immeasurable. He shows his willingness to give up his life for eternal truth. An enemy would be willing to kill his opponents but not offering his life to die for what he believes. Socrates indicates that the soul is immortal and does not die.
2. How can you define your point of view more clearly? Socrates did not view the state as his rival. He showed his determination to liberate people’s mind by striving to share his opinion using controversial questions. He did not claim to own the right answers and instead he showed a willingness to learn from his rivals. Socrates showed his superiority to his accusers by admitting his own deficiency in wisdom. An enemy would be hostile to his opponents; he would strive to show his superiority unlike what Socrates did.
3. What is an example of your point of view? Socrates friendliness is evident in different dialogues with Athenians. In Apology though he was being accused of blasphemy he maintains his respect for the gods and tries to teach his accusers the eternal truth. He shows his determination to share his political convictions to fulfill Athenians quench for wisdom (Apology, 35a). He was a patriot who used his own definitions and means to serve the Athenian’s best interest. Socrates portrays himself as a public benefactor. He uses his military record of performance to justify his persistence in pursuing philosophy for public good using his personal resources (Apology, 28e). When Euthyphro complains about his questioning, instead of getting offended, he corrects Euthyphro and helps him in the definition of justice and holiness (Euthyphro, 11b-14a).
4. What is the origin of your point of view?
I view Socrates as a patriotic and friendly Athenian. This is because, although he used a form of sophistry to share his philosophical concepts in public and private gatherings he never received drachma in return. He is aware that he does not know everything. He did not take pride after winning in argument. Socrates declined to escape from prison before his execution because he believed in fighting for eternal truth. He obeyed the laws of the Athens even after his prosecution (Crito, 44b). This attests his patriotism to the state.
5. What are your assumptions?
His uncompromising nature and constant questioning of the unreasonable Athenian political and religious believes was not in quench for fame. I assume his intention was to impact people’s traditional reasoning and not to gain fame or power. His rivals who were majorly those in the upper class were rigid people in their way of reasoning.
6. What are the reasons, evidence, and arguments that support your point of view?
One of the reasons that make me believe Socrates was a public benefactor is his affirmation in the Apology. He revealed his consistency in justice, voluntarily in sharing wisdom and openness to discuss with his critics. He denies corrupting the youth which was among his accusations. He upheld loyalty to Athenian laws and believed that young people crowded around him to listen to his philosophical examination (Apology, 32e). He presents his confidence in his good deeds for his people and nation in his affinity argument. He was not afraid of his execution because he believed his soul would have an eternal life after his death. His refusal to escape from Athens proved his loyalty to his country.
7. What are other points of view on this issue? The Athenians executed Socrates to resist criticism of their beliefs, but over time, many young and fierce philosophers resulted. Socrates presents himself as a friendly citizen who uses beneficial provocation to Athenian’s democratic knowledge. Other philosophers who were nurtured by his questioning have acknowledged Socrates contribution to the freedom people enjoy today. Plato and Aristotle are among the philosophers who acknowledge the existence of Socrates as beneficial to state and modern world.
8. What is your conclusion, decision, solution, or prediction? Socrates is remembered because of the quality of his life and his contribution to the philosophical revelation that people enjoy today. He became greater after his death than he was during his time on earth. His contribution was not only in philosophy, but it also led to many scientific inventions. He taught people to question their beliefs, which over the years resulted to improvement of the human life. His existence added a great value to the state of life we see today.
9. What are the consequences of your point of view?
The consequences of existence of Socrates is the useful contribution to democratic reasoning we enjoy today. He played a key role in provoking people’s ignorance. As a result, all sectors have developed because people feel provoked to redefine a good life. Many schools resulted from Socrates existence as people quenched to learn of his philosophical concepts.
Socrates lost his life for what most of us take for granted. By questioning the unreasonable ancient Greek beliefs, Socrates taught the young people not to live in ignorance. He taught then that virtue is knowledge that they would acquire by fulfilling the purpose of their existence. Although he is accused of corrupting their mind and executed, his effort to influence people’s way of thinking is evident to date. Therefore, Socrates was not an enemy of state; in fact his existence was of great importance.
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