Category: Socrates

Philosophers’ views on such topics as virtue and choice are usually based on their overall attitudes towards ethics and sources of their beliefs: either religious or non-religious. If to provide an example, Augustine and Socrates’ views on virtue and free will were completely different. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates argued that there were no connections between…

To come in defense of Socrates, I will travel back in time and take my position as part of a jury in an Athenian court where Socrates stands accused of corrupting young minds thereby, subverting the democratic order of the day and impiety. My verdict is ‘not guilty’ for several reasons. On the charge of…

Table of Contents Introduction Historical Background Views on Civil Disobedience Conclusions Works Cited Introduction The history of humankind is filled with numerous examples of civil disobedience and revolts against the existing order of things. In the majority of these cases, these disobediences were fueled by severe disparities and injustices plaguing society. In many scenarios, the…

It is often the case that philosophical judgments are self-contradictory. This can especially be seen from the arguments that Socrates makes in Crito and Apology. In Apology, for instance, he tells how he refused to take part in the unjust killing thus going against the Thirty Commissioners’ order. In Crito, he agrees to receive the…

The civil disobedience movement was widely supported by philosophers of ancient times as well as modern thinkers. However, their views on the matter significantly differed in the way they expressed them. The two contrasting figures in philosophy related to this idea are Henry David Thoreau and Socrates, and their comparison demonstrates the varying perspectives on…

Athens held the trial of Socrates to determine whether he was indeed guilty of asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of the city and the corruption of youth. If Plato’s account of Socrates’ life in Apology is historically accurate, then it is safe to assume that Socrates shied away from religious convention radically reconceived piety. The…

In Apology 28b-30c, Socrates admits that he is not ashamed of pursuing a life that has not put him at risk of early death. The philosopher’s convictions hinge on the rational premise that it is worse to “live as a bad man” and not consider justice when taking action (28b). Further, he brings up a…

The trial of Socrates was undoubtedly arranged since the personality of the philosopher was disagreeable to some individuals. While some of the accusations against him were valid, such as a lack of respect for the gods, the real reason for this trial and its ruling was to get rid of the unpleasant philosopher. However, to…

The guardian philosopher-king is the leader with distinguished characteristics such as wisdom, intelligence, efficiency, and sacrifice. The willingness to live a minimalist or simple lifestyle is what Socrates advocates in his theory of the character of the just. Therefore, the guardian is prohibited from private property ownership but encouraged to reside in communal structures without…

Socrates is an iconic figure in thought history that set the vector of flowing of the whole Western tradition. He was born around 470 B.C. and died in 399 B.C. by Athenian court order because he was blamed for many sins, mainly baseless. Despite the fact that he was concerned “by the well-being of others,…