Socrates and the Self Defense Problem

Socrates and the Self Defense Problem

The question of Morality and what it means:

Throughout the recorded history of man, there has been a series of questions continually asked by each generation. ³Who are we? Where are we going? Why? Is there a God?² Are just a few of the questions that continue to engage the minds of so many today. But perhaps the most difficult one to really grasp has to do with the theories of ethics and morality, or in layman¹s terms, ³What is good and bad, and how do we live our lives to uphold the good while shunning the bad?² As time has gone on there have been many theories and ideas proposed, ranging from the divine hand theory (dealing with how organized religion handles the matter of ethics), from utilitarianism (short version maximizing pleasure while minimizing pain, ethical egoism on a grander scale really), to the vague theories of Immanual Kant, (who stressed the theory of universal law, categorical imperatives, and what would happen if we applied it, supposedly). With all these great philosophical minds over the course of eons working on the problem with ethics, I find it rather ironic that no one pays heed to what one of the greatest minds in history, Socrates ( circa 470 B.C. to 399 B.C.) had to say concerning this question of morality. Socrates, seemingly was able to create a whole ethical theory based on a single statement, ³One must never do wrong, even for wrong received.² Words he uttered literally on his death bed just days before his execution took place in Athens. Simple words, yet with such magnitude and underlying meaning that we must examine this further in order to fully understand it.

The statement, ³One must never do wrong, even for wrong received² seems to be a predecessor to the Judo-Christian philosophy ³treat others as you would have them treat you² or more commonly referred to as the golden rule. A first glance we seem to have all we need laid out for us right there. This statement calls for us to be honest, not to kill or maim anyone, and creates a world where life is more simple. Or does it? What about situations where some one is violating you, trying to harm you? May you defend yourself, and in fact is self defense a legitimate moral justification in this case?

Looking at the literal text in ³One must never do wrong, even for wrong received² seems to imply that you may not.