An Analysis Of Sokrates When We Die

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What happens when we die? This is a question humans have been pondering for centuries and although there are those who say they’ve been to the beyond there is no tangible proof of what lies beyond the grave. Sokrates was one of those who pondered what happens when we die and if death is worth fearing along with the idea immortality. In Apology, Sokrates defends his ideas before being prosecuted and in Phaedo those same values are tested when he faces his own death. Sokrates isn’t scared of death, his approach on death is viewing it as a question that will finally be answered. Knowing the jury will make him decide between his life or continuing his philosophical quest for knowledge, he tells them he will select the latter. While he acknowledges …show more content…

Sokrates does however shift his opinion of death from “having a pleasant after life” to being able to obtain “pure knowledge.” He explains, “[F]or it is impossible to attain any pure knowledge with the body, then one of two things is true: either we can never attain knowledge or we can do so after death. Then and not before, the soul is by itself apart from the body.” While we still hold onto our physical bodies are held back by our “natural desire to be nurtured” keeping us distracted from pursuing the truth and understanding. To further illustrate this he explains, “[O]nly then, when we are dead, attain that which we desire and of which we claim to be...” Sokrates’ opinion of death also evolves once more as he explains, “[I]t is not unreasonable that one should not kill one self before a god has indicated some necessity to do so.” He does not support the idea of suicide because he thinks of the gods as “good masters” and only a foolish man would run away from a master who keeps him satisfied. In the end, this idea is not enough to stop Sokrates from ending his life and he consumes the poison given to …show more content…

Again he states he isn’t afraid of what he doesn’t know and that he’s off to converse with better men in the afterlife. As an illustration he explains, “What would one not give… for the opportunity to examine the man who led the great expedition against Troy, or Odysseus, or Sisyphus and innumerable other men and women one could mention?” He also states that if you are just your life will not be “neglected by the gods” and your life after death will depend on whether you were pious or impious. In the same way, his attitude toward the afterlife is positive and confident in Phaedo. To clarify, he explains what he feels will happen as a human descends into the Underworld. He explains, when someone dies their “guardian spirit” leads them to a certain place and after being judged they are guided to the Underworld. Then, those who lived unjust lives will be shunned and none will want to travel with them. But since he has lived a just life and has no attachment to his body he will be fine thus explaining his positivity and confidence toward the

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