This back and forth notion in pursuit of a valid definition of piety is a single example of searching for understanding and wisdom in a well-examined life. In the Apology, Socrates attempts to instruct the jurors on justice rather than plead his innocence. By doing this, he is examining the jurors’ notion of what “just” is in an attempt to be acquitted through teaching rather than coercion. After Socrates has been convicted and in the process of being sentenced, he claims that asking him to give up philosophy
In Plato’s The Republic, there exists a struggle between the characters of Socrates and Thrasymachus to find the correct definition of what justice is. Thrasymachus, being a Sophist, expressed his views on justice in a manner of rash sequences whereby Socrates closely followed behind with his own counter-arguments. These counter-arguments effectively exposed weaknesses in Thrasymachus’s argument for justice, and further crippled it entirely. By outlining and explaining Thrasymachus’s views on justice, I will argue two things; first that the weakness in his argument comes from only himself in abandoning his method. Secondly, that justice may be our deep-rooted understanding and ability to identify good from evil.
The passage, 2c-3, explains in detail, what Socrates is charged for. It simply comes down to the competition of what the government wants younger men to know and what old wise men want the younger men to know. As Socrates and Euthyphro continue discussing, page 4 – d, I find that it’s OK to be laughed at as long as you do not teach your own ways to make people like yourself. Socrates feels that he is accused for making others like him because he wants to teach.
During the course of reading Euthyphro, the idea of doing what is right became the overall goal for what Socrates was trying to argue. Though to one such as myself, I would easily define it as doing what is morally good according to a just law. However, after reading this dialogue, there would seem to be many loop-holes that could be argued against my understanding. The whole dialogue of this section concerns how a man named Euthyphro is supposed proceed against his father in civil court, and how Socrates see's this as morally wrong. How he asserts his disposition is through asking Euthyphro to give his reasoning behind his actions, and constantly disagreeing with him through more questions which lead into more universal idea's such as
He tried to influence people in order better them. He wanted to make people think in great depth and expand their knowledge. Roshwald wrote about Socrates current reputation, how it affected and brought up, Roshwald, also wanted to change how people thought of Socrates. He addressed contemporary college students and showed them what he valued in his life to make himself a better person. He used his great sense of knowledge and understanding to persuade the reader with clarity and ease throughout the paper.
This essay will analyze the dialogue between Socrates and Euthryphro that takes place before Socrates’ trial with the gods of Athens. Though there were many concepts that were shared throughout the dialogue, I chose to discuss Socrates’ argument of piety, love, and what is just and unjust. Socrates’ dialogue with Euthryphro is one of many forms of tedious arguments that Socrates’ is able to present to his peers. This argument is a pivotal question in Socrates’ philosophy. It teaches us the meaning of free will and being able to independently decide what is truly pious or impious based on personal beliefs.
Meletus has spread the rumor that Socrates is sacreligious and creates his own deities as well as sharing these ideas with the youth of Athens, and therefore corrupting them. To defend himself against these charges, Socrates asks Meletus to come forward and answer some questions. Socrates is especially skillful in the questions he asks of his antagonist, with the result that Meletus is contradicting himself and making himself look ridiculous with his amount of absurd accusations. He implies that Socrates is the only one endangering the minds of the children. All the other residents of Athens are trying to build up the minds of the youth and promoting their well being.
Socrates believed in asking questions, challenging the answers to said questions and then re-examining the logic in arguments that were formed from the Q and A that transpired. This way of thinking was, previous to his teachings, unheard of. He inspired the Athenian youth he taught (Plato was his student) a new form a free thinking. Creating an atmosphere
The way in which Socrates defended himself was by calling Meletus to be questioned about the people that were considered good influences on the youth. The strength of Socrates argument comes from the method in which he asks the questions so in the end he forces Meletus to prove his point for him. After a series of questions regarding the specifics of whom might be considered a good influence on the youth, Socrates says, “So every person in Athens, it would appear, has an excellent influence on them except for me, whereas I alone am corrupting them.” (25a) This is a very valid argument because he compares this to taming a horse and through logical reasoning attempts to show that its nearly impossible for everyone to have the skill to tame a horse while only one person can be blamed of ruining it. This example illustrates that in reality Meletus doesn’t desire to help the children like Socrates
In Euthyphro, Socrates did not directly express what he felt was the meaning of piety but rather questioned the accounts by Euthyphro. It seemed as though Socrates, throughout the entire dialogue, dissected and broke down every definition and meaning to what pious and impious meant to Euthyphro. While Euthyphro tried to defend and prove his point it was rendered mute as he jumped from answer to answer slowly being cornered to the inevitable; that he did not in fact know the full definition or had a true understanding of what pious and impious meant. (Plato 20) In Apology, Socrates is accused of several things. Among them are studying heavens and below earth, which as a consequence leads to corrupting the youth with his teachings.