23c Socrates Private Life

Private vs. public lifestyles

Socrates was one of the first philosophers of the civilized world. He spent his life publicly dedicating himself to the Greek gods and to fixing the people of his city. Throughout his life, Socrates upheld his views that truth and wisdom were very important. While some people suggest that Socrates should have lived a private life in order to avoid his trial and death, living a private life would have meant giving up what he deemed important.

On one hand, Socrates could have lived a private life. In 23c Socrates mentions how the young men who follow him around try to “examine” people. The people they examine get angry at him. Had Socrates lived a private life, no one would have been examined and become angry. Had he lived a private life, Socrates would have avoided his trial and execution.

He knew that had he taken the pity route, he would have had a better chance to save his life. Socrates himself said that had he lived privately he would have had time to manage his own property and made money. Through Plato’s writing, Socrates says, “I have never had time…to manage my own property…I am totally broke.” (22e). He later mentions his “general self-neglect” and how there is “something supernatural” about how he “stood so many years neglecting” his own property; “going around to each” person because they needed it. Had he not done what he did, he would have had property and money. Socrates knew that if he changed his ways, his life would be spared and he could have been happy, at least happy in the face of