He seemed almost ambivalent to the continuation of his life but instead was concerned with the wisdom of his actions during his life. “You are wrong, sir, if you think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death; he should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong (Apology 28b).” Socrates believes that it is a disgrace to back down in the face of danger when he has done the right thing. This is especially true for Socrates because of the charges against him. He refutes all of them and shows that he does believe in the state Gods, that he does not charge a fee for teaching, and that if he pollutes the minds of young people it is of there own free will. His strongest argument is that if he did do wrong he did so unknowingly and therefore should not be punished.
After the examination Socrates concludes that the act of escape would be just and he would be morally unjustified and committing the act. The first argument that Crito presents to Socrates brings up the issue of what the majority think. Crito says, “Many people who do not know you or me very well will believe I might have saved you had I been willing to give money, but that I did not care to do so.” (Grude, Pg 47) Crito’s argument is clearly concerned with his own reputation, especially with what the majority
Socrates is found at the court because he is under the indictment of Meletus, for he is accused of corrupting the young and not believing the gods in whom the city believes. We find out that Euthyphro’s business at the court is regarding the prosecution of his father. He is prosecuting his father for the murder of a laborer who himself murdered a fellow laborer. Throughout this dialogue we are enlightened in the nature of piety. The passage, 2c-3, explains in detail, what Socrates is charged for.
All the other residents of Athens are trying to build up the minds of the youth and promoting their well being. In the same breath, however, he claims that no one would intentionally make the youth of Athens (or anyone for that matter) worse so long as he lives among these people. This means that either Socrates is not making the people worse or he is doing so unintentionally. Simply put, this claim makes no common sense. According to what Meletus is saying, Socrates is guilty, yet not guilty and therefore, does not deserve punishment.
Actions are then just if they sustain or are consonant with such harmony. Such a conception of individual justice is virtue ethical because it ties justice (acting justly) to an internal state of the person rather than to (adherence to) social norms or to good consequences; but Plato's view is also quite radical because it at least initially leaves it an open question whether the just individual refrains from such socially proscribed actions as lying, killing, and stealing. Plato eventually seeks to show that someone with a healthy, harmonious soul wouldn't lie, kill, or steal, but most commentators consider his argument to that effect to be highly deficient. Aristotle is generally regarded as a virtue ethicist par excellence, but his account of justice as a virtue is less purely virtue ethical than Plato's because it anchors individual justice in situational factors that are largely external to the just individual. Situations and communities are just, according to Aristotle, when individuals receive benefits according to their merits, or virtue: those most
I mean think about it how would you react if some bum on the street was filling you kids head with nonsensical ideas contrary to the ones your are trying to instill in them. Not only does it make the kid question life but it makes them question tradition and second guess their parents. Socrates state in the apology “But far more dangerous are the others, who began when you were children, and took possession of your minds with their falsehoods, telling of one Socrates, a wise man, who speculated about the heaven above, and searched into the earth beneath, and made the worse appear the better cause” I find it hard to take this seriously because Socrates complains about how the people in the court room have been told from childhood stories about how bad Socrates is, and that he doesn’t
399 BC Socrates was held in court in front of fellow Athenians, charges were poisoning the youth of Athens with his teachings, not recognizing the gods worshiped by the Athenians, and lastly for inventing new gods or deities. He was tried and after listening to his defense the Athenians sentenced him to death, but contrary to the title of the letter it was more a justification and defense of his actions through out his life. Written by his pupil and to one of the most well known western philosophy Plato who was present during Socrates’ trial and accounted for it through his writing of The Apology. Though Socrates never wrote anything during his life time his teaching are influential through out history, the writings of his student Plato are
Socrates In Plato’s “Apology,” Socrates is found guilty of corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods of Athens. The punishment for his crimes was death. “Crito” takes place in jail in which Socrates resides before his death. During this period, Socrates’ friend Crito comes to visit him and tries to persuade him to escape. Socrates, being the philosopher that he was, argued on whether he should escape or not.
Now if one is going through mild suffering that can eventually be cured, they should not end their life, even if they so desire to. That person does not have a “duty to die” (Hardwig 178). I agree with most of the perspectives of euthanasia from philosophers in this chapter, except John Hardwig. He does have some valid points, but some not so valid. I would like to point out one of his first statements, “the sacrifice of life is always greater than the burden of caring” (178).
Socrates responds to this by telling them that he wasn’t surprised by their decision. He believes that he would rather die than have to conform to what they believe. Socrates says, “for the unexamined life is not worth living.” He also says that death brings on something that is unknown and it could bring peace or it could be bad. He doesn’t want to be quiet and keep his believes to himself. After the court sentences Socrates to death, he ends with a very strong statement.