Socrates As A Martyr And Socrates - 927 Words

In philosophy class this semester we spoke a lot about Socrates and his trial. We were required to read the dialogue ‘Apology’ by Plato. The ‘Apology’ Dialogue is what Plato recorded during the speech Socrates gave to the court defending himself against the charges of corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes† these two were the main charges, but underneath that there were also other significant charges such as being considered an antidemocratic or pro-Spartan, sophistry, and being lampooned by Aristophanes in the comedy â€Å"clouds†. Apology in this sense has the meaning of speaking in defense of ones beliefs or actions. The trial is usually categorized into two interpretations which are: Socrates as a Martyr and Socrates as an Antidemocratic. The first interpretation which says Socrates trial and death was Socrates acting as a martyr; that interpretation is considered more â€Å"traditional† and â€Å"standard† compared to the ‘radical’ interpretation that stated that Socrates was Antidemocratic. A martyr has different meanings, a few definitions include: A person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs, a person who exaggerates their distress in order to obtain sympathy, or a constant sufferer of something. The definition of a martyr which fit Socrates the most is ‘A person who is killed because of their religion or other beliefs† because he decided to die with his beliefs rather than change his beliefs and live which is aShow MoreRelatedSocrates As A Political Martyr1674 Words   |  7 Pages1st Plato Question People question if Socrates can be considered a political martyr. A political martyr is someone who suffers persecution and/or death for advocating, renouncing, refusing to renounce, and/or refusing to advocate a political belief or cause. I believe that Socrates should be considered a martyr, and his actions during his trial in the Apology proves my point. I believe that Socrates already accepted his fate before his trial began. At a trial, the person accused of the crime triesRead MoreSocrates : A Martyr Or Confessor Essay1346 Words   |  6 PagesSocrates: A Martyr or Confessor Socrates was a man in Athens, who set out in search for truth and knowledge. In doing this, he managed to anger some of his fellow men by exposing their ignorance. In 399 BC, he was arraigned on three different charges. He was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens. He was, also, indicted on charges of heresy and treason. As well, charged with being an atheist, not believing in the Gods. According to some people, Socrates deserved to die and to others his deathRead MoreSocrates Political Martyr Analysis1909 Words   |  8 Pageslato 1. Is Socrates a political Martyr? Socrates’ teachings of philosophy are to reveal thinking in its true purity. His principles and teachings are very important to him as a person. It is arguable that at the end of the Apology, Socrates contrasts the meaning of a political martyr. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, a martyr is, â€Å"A person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle.† Socrates has no fear of death in its entirety because heRead MoreSocrates : An Essay On Morality, Misdeeds, And A Martyr1226 Words   |  5 PagesSocrates: An Essay on Morality, Misdeeds, and a Martyr Few names in history have withstood the test of time, remaining currently studied and discussed to the point of familiarity. Socrates is one such unique name. A man of ethics and reason, Socrates would change history forever, creating a love of reason and knowledge unestablished by his predecessors. Despite the admiration and respect Socrates found in most Athenian circles, his revolutionary methods and inquisitive mind would eventually be hisRead MoreEssay about Dont Be Afraid to Die in Socrates Phaedo741 Words   |  3 PagesThroughout the course of the Phaedo, Socrates argues that the soul is immortal. Because he believes that his soul will live on forever, Socrates claims that he is not afraid to die. Socrates was sentenced to death and due to the fact that he took the poison earlier than when was necessary, many believe that he committed suicide. Contrary to what may be presumed about Socrates’ death, I will argue that he is a martyr and did not commit suicide. Suicide is defined as taking one’s life for the sakeRead MoreSocrates One Day At 399 B.c 977 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Paul Avila Stephen Prothero RN106 02 May 2017 Socrates One day in 399 B.C., the man championed as the founder of Western philosophy stood before a jury, accused of â€Å"corrupting the young,† â€Å"not believing in the gods† of Athens, and believing â€Å"in other daimonia that are novel† (Plato, â€Å"Apology† 24b). Three hours were given to Socrates’ accusers, and another three for Socrates to defend himself. He was then given a choice: death or exile. To many it was startling that such vague accusationsRead MoreThe Common Theme Of Martyrdom Within The Death Of Socrates And The Execution Of Saint Barbara1032 Words   |  5 PagesDeanna Rose Palevo Professor Heller ART 105 07 Final Term Paper 12/06/2016 The Common Theme of Martyrdom within The Death of Socrates and The Execution of Saint Barbara When walking through a museum, one notices the immense variation within every piece. Each work contains one or a few specific themes, and its own unique interpretation of said theme. Common themes may include, but are of course not limited to that of life, birth, beauty, power and strength, heroism, death, and beliefs. In thisRead MoreBiography of Socrates Essay1166 Words   |  5 PagesSocrates is known in todays world as one of the greatest philosophers in history. He brought many revolutionary ideas to ancient Athens during his life and even after his death. He had many followers that beloved him even till death. His tragic death only led him to become a martyr for philosophy. Socrates never wrote anything down so what we know of his life is the from the records left by his followers, mainly Plato. Socrates was born around 470 B.C. in Athens to a family with moderate wealthRead MoreAnalysis Of Platos Apology On The Man Of Save The Day, But Not Himself1285 Words   |  6 PagesThe Man to Save the Day, but not Himself An Analysis of Plato’s Apology Socrates, painted as a humble man who never had any of his own writings, and often speculated to be illiterate, is considered one of the major partisans of Western philosophy. Western philosophy is the philosophical thought of the western world. This idea proves to be quite accurate when considering Plato’s Apology, the apology of Socrates which is not really considered an apology but a defense. In the ancient Greek era, theRead MoreThe Bet By Anton Chekhov1400 Words   |  6 Pagesimprisonment for fifteen years was better than the death penalty. Like Socrates in Plato’s Crito the lawyer was trying to challenge society’s beliefs. While in confinement the lawyer read many books, whose subjects ranged from languages to philosophy. After fifteen years of solitary confinement the lawyer rejects his prize money and defaults on the bet, hours before winning. I wonder if the man had read the Crito. We can reason that Socrates’ could have inspired the man to deci de to pick the more brash choice