Analysis: The Last Days Of Socrates

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The thought that has tortured creators forever is that “nothing is original.” Ideas build upon ideas and nothing is ever original. In 470-399 BC, Socrates had a lot to say about many ideas. Although, one of the most controversial ones was his view on life and death. It is still a controversial matter today. Socrates’ views have shaped Western culture in the direction of shaming suicide, accepting that the body and soul are two different things, and the body and soul separate at death. Due to the views of Socrates, it is hard for many Westerners to accept the idea of assisted suicide, brain death, and comatose states. Socrates’ views have fostered medical ethics, religious views, disciplinary action, and entertainment in Western society today. …show more content…

The Last Days of Socrates opened up with The Apology which features the downfall of Socrates. Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth, studying things in heavens and below the earth, not believing in the gods of the city, and making the worst argument into the best argument through the use of rhetoric (Plato 39-46). Socrates defended himself upon the charges that were brought upon him in Athenian court (Plato 39). His swift thinking, cunning articulation, and confident attitude led him to base his defense upon ethos and logos. Meletus had previously told the court that Socrates would mislead the jury with charm and heightened diction. Socrates used rhetoric to attempt and persuade the jury to not completely write him off and listen to his …show more content…

In the Black Muslim culture ㄧ that I have become accustomed to in the last two years due to my father ㄧ they believe that the body experiences the migration type of death described by Socrates in The Apology. Black Muslims believe that when a person goes to sleep that their soul goes away and implants itself into another world. If their soul likes the place it goes, then their soul decides to stay, and that is when they truly are dead. Confucian believers believe that the soul is implanted into another person or animal, which is similar to the belief of Socrates. “ … those who have deliberately preferred a life of injustice, suppression, and robbery with violence become wolves and hawks and kites” (Plato 151). Due to a friend in the Jewish religion, I have noticed that the Jewish belief holds more to the annihilation effect of death. They believe that during death a person dies and they have no consciousness. Then, they figure that when the Messiah comes back they will all rise and join the Messiah. Christianity was also influenced by Socrates, due to my religious knowledge and preference about Christianity, we believe that when people die their souls go up into heaven to join all of the people that have died before them. Then, one day the Messiah will come back and everyone will be able to rejoice with him in heaven. Socrates has shaped the religious views that are a big part of Western society.

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