Is Socrates A Martyr For Philosophical Thought?

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The Golden age of Greece produced numerous philosophers, while also fostering traditional beliefs found within early Greek writings. One of the most proliferate philosophers during this time was Socrates, and because of his teachings he paid the ultimate price; his life. So, when asked who is Socrates, I believed him to be a martyr for his beliefs. The meaning behind his philosophies was to educate the people and inspire greater thoughts within them; causing him to be seen as a threat to Athens. So, while many may have seen Socrates as a simple philosopher and threat to the city of Athens, due to his teachings, I believe him to be a martyr for philosophical thought. I will support this idea by examining both the Apology and Clouds and how Socrates’ …show more content…

To me, it begins with the fact that Socrates’ overarching goal was to teach the people of Athens to focus not on matters of the body such as money or power, but rather on the matters of the soul such as virtue. In 36c lines 5 through 9, Socrates states, “I tried to persuade each of you to care first not about any of his possessions, but about himself and how he’ll become best and wisest; and not primarily about the city’s possessions, but about the city itself; and to care about all other things in the same way” (Reeve 54). This further shows how Socrates spent his life pushing for the people to care about the soul and further seek piety in their actions. The fact that Socrates stated this even after he had been sentenced to death, rather than plea for his life, only strengthens the claim that Socrates was a martyr for philosophy because, even as he faced down death, Socrates continued to attempt to educate the people of Athens. To further the idea that Socrates not only accepted his death, but also used it to empower all future thinkers, I will use a statement by Socrates, in Plato’s Apology, in paragraph 32d lines 1 through 3, “I couldn’t care less about death- if that isn’t putting it too bluntly- but that all I care about is not doing anything unjust or impious” (Reeve 48). Not only did Socrates further his teachings by pushing the audience to live virtuous lives, but he also chose to lead by example; evident in this passage. Socrates understood that those were his final moments, and instead of pleading for his life, he chose to use the trial as his final

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