Essay On The Death Of Socrates

The death of Socrates has had a huge and almost continuous impact on western culture. The only death of comparable importance in our history is that of Jesus, with whom Socrates has often been compared to. The death of Socrates has always been controversial. The cultures of Graeco-Roman antiquity remain relevant not because we share the beliefs of the ancients, but because we continue to be preoccupied by many of their questions, worried by their anxieties, unable to resolve their dilemmas. The trial of Socrates is the first case in recorded history when a democratic government, by due process of law, condemned a person to death for his beliefs. Athens, one of the world 's earliest democracies, raised Socrates, educated him and finally sentenced

He is the first person we can identify who seriously asked and pursued answers to questions that we now think of as characteristically philosophical. Thinkers before Socrates, the Pre-Socratics they 're called, had asked questions about mathematics, about metaphysics, and about natural phenomena. Socrates spent his life asking philosophical questions of the citizens of Athens, questioning their answers, debating them. He wanted to know what goodness was, what morality was, what piety was, whether virtue can be taught, what knowledge is and similar questions. The question Does Socrates allow his enemies to win by staying and accepting his sentence? The best answer is yes and no. His enemies have the relief of Socrates not being around now, but Socrates assures there will be more people to question the norms of Athens society and

Many of Crito 's arguments concern the opinion of the majority what will they think if Crito does not help Socrates escape? What will they think if Socrates is not responsible for his children? Socrates argues that the opinion of an expert is more important than the opinion of the majority. He gives the example of someone in training. Such a person does not pay attention to the advice of the general public, but to his trainer. If he listened to public opinion he could hurt his body. Socrates extends the analogy to deciding on what the right way is to act. If we listen to the majority rather than experts we could harm our souls, the part of us that is mutilated by wrong actions and benefited by right ones( 47a-48a). Socrates does concede that as a majority, the general public has the power to put people to death, but he states that the most important thing is not living, but living a good life, so that it is not worth following the opinion of the majority if it means sacrificing something that is important for living a good life (48b). just to have life isn’t considered living to Socrates. He continues to explain the principle of life is to live well, escaping prison would label him an outlaw stripping Socrates the ability to fulfill Gods