Preview

Comparing Plato's Apology, Republic, Phaedo And Crito

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1223 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparing Plato's Apology, Republic, Phaedo And Crito
Everyone in society has different views on the best kind of life. Some people think that the best kind of life is one that is filled with family. Some may think that it is concerning living life without any regrets and being prosperous, healthy and having someone to share it all with. But this is not the case for Socrates. Having very profound views about what could be called the best kind of life for a human being. This paper is going to explore four areas that Socrates believes makes up the best kind of life for humans. The fist point that this paper is going too examine the values and how it was vital for Socrates. Secondly this paper is going to explore virtue. The Third point of this paper is the pursuit of happiness. And lastly …show more content…
This includes happiness and the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. However, because Socrates' views are broken up throughout these dialogues, it is sometimes difficult to see how his remarks fit together into a logical scheme. An appreciation of his values and worldviews can help us understand both his lifestyle and his behavior in the Apology, Republic, Phaedo and Crito. There are important differences between how the ancient Greeks viewed ethics and how most people view it today. The Greek word ethos, from which we derive our word ‘ethics,' means ‘habit.' Consequently, the central ethical question for ancient Greeks such as Socrates was not "What is the right action to perform in this particular situation?" but rather "What kind of person?" or, equivalently, "What kinds of habits …show more content…
They spend a great deal of time and money trying to improve their health through exercise, dieting and medicine and comparatively little time and effort trying to become more virtuous people. Socrates demonstrates that living good defines living a happy life. Happiness is a virtuous activity that fulfills our proper purpose. "And you may easily see that it is the god that has given me to your city; for it is not human, the way in which I have neglected all my own interest and allowed my private affairs to be neglected for so many years, while occupying myself unceasingly in your interest, going to each of you privately like a father or an elder brother, trying to persuade him to care for human excellence." By human excellence Socrates is relating to the good of the soul. Socrates would rather live a good life then to not live at
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Plato's Apology
    • 127 Words
    • 1 Page

    Summary Of Plato's Apology

    In The Apology by Plato, the accusations that was brought against Socrates during his trial, that he was worshipping new gods, corrupting the young. Even after providing services to the Athens he was being executed by the Athens for influencing young men not to join the Athens. Socrates is one of the few individuals whom one could say has so-shaped the cultural and intellectual development of the world that, without him Socrates had influenced Plato to not to have a career in the political world as an Athens Socrates. Plato was a disciple of Socrates. The apology was an attempt to defend the character of Socrates by showing him in an honest and sympathetic. Plato wanted to preserve Socrates reputation, and to him as a great mentor.…

    • 127 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Socrates Influence Society
    • 151 Words
    • 1 Page

    How Does Socrates Influence Society

    Athenians live as the society tells them to live, and they follow their own traditions, customs, and morals of the rest of the people. Socrates has never forced Athenians to follow his teachings, on the contrary he lets them do it without getting anything in return. He states “And I cannot justly be held responsible for the good or bad conduct of these people, as I never promised to teach them anything.” (33a-b) He doesn’t directly influence society, he tries to make them aware of their lack of knowledge; it then becomes their responsibility to fill the void exposed by Socrates. Therefore, he believes they have not examined their own lives. Socrates believes an examined life is one that is reflective, where we examine actions on the basis of…

    • 151 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Privileged Life In Plato's Apology Of Socrates
    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Privileged Life In Plato's Apology Of Socrates

    Socrates lived a life of inquiry in order to achieve a fulfilled life of eudaimonia and success. I argue that the Socratic examined life is a process, which should be valued because it teaches one to be critical thinkers, and aids us in the understanding our true actions.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Justice In Plato's The Republic
    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Justice In Plato's The Republic

    After all this, Socrates goes on to the story about a man returning from the afterlife and describing it. At the end of the story, he says that because he and his companions have established that the soul is immortal, and because this story speaks about the immortality of the soul, it is even more important for people to be just and seek good and true knowledge in their life. This, in turn, will bring them much happiness in both this life and the…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Socrates Apology And Crito Analysis
    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Socrates Apology And Crito Analysis

    Socrates believed that his purpose, as a moral individual, was to achieve true wisdom of virtue and justice. With this considered, one may ask, "Then why did he accept punishment for crimes he didn't commit?" Socrates didn't care for fate, because he was only concerned for whether or not he and others were doing the right thing. This belief is shown to be evident when Socrates says, "You are sadly mistaken, fellow, if you suppose that a man with even a grain of self-respect should reckon up the risks of living or dying, rather than simply consider, whenever he does something, whether his actions are just or unjust, the deeds of a good man or a bad one." (Defence of Socrates, 28a).…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What did it mean for a man in Ancient Greece to lead a good life, according to Platos’s four dialogs in the Trial and Death of Socrates?
    • 1014 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What did it mean for a man in Ancient Greece to lead a good life, according to Platos’s four dialogs in the Trial and Death of Socrates?

    What did it mean for a man in Ancient Greece to lead a good life, according to Platos’s four dialogs in the Trial and Death of Socrates?…

    • 1014 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Platos Apology
    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Platos Apology

    People are accused all over the world for crimes they are not guilty of. In the text “Platos Apology” Socrates is accused of a crime which is slander. Socrates believes that teaching is not crime and he shouldn't be prosecuted for such an act.Teaching is not a crime. How can he be accused of something that isn't wrong in society?…

    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Censorship in Platos Republic
    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Censorship in Platos Republic

    The main discussion of the book is on the topic of what is just and unjust and what lifestyle is beneficiary. After countless examinations and definitions, Socrates in book IV is able to convince his comrades that political justice is simple; virtue which in turn is the greatest good(444a-b). He then concludes that if justice can be found in a city, then ideally it can also be found within an individual. He believes that a just person would be one that is not distracted by their indulgences of appetites, which Plato classifies as drink, food, sex and money loving. Socrates believes that a person with a balanced soul will refrain from acts that we consider to be unjust, for example, murder, adultery and treason. But how do you achieve a person with a balanced soul? Socrates believes it comes from upbringing, through education and parenting.…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    A Critical Study of Virtue Ethics in Aristotle and Kant
    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages

    A Critical Study of Virtue Ethics in Aristotle and Kant

    Three works on ethics have come down under his name: Nicomachean ethics in ten ‘books’, Eudemian ethics in eight ‘books’, and the so-called Magna Moralia or ‘great Ethics’. In these Nicomachean ethics is considered as Aristotle’s major and definitive work in ethics at least than others. According to Aristotle the highest good for human beings is Eudaimonia/happiness and that a rational choice of life will be one directed to one’s own happiness. Only a life in which one cultivates the traditional virtues will be a happy life. Eudaimonia, or 'happiness ', is the supreme goal of human life. Aristotle believed that everything has a purpose - the good for a knife is to cut, and a good knife is one that cuts well. In the same way, Eudaimonia is the 'good ' for a person.…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Plato's Philosophy in Apology
    • 1367 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Plato's Philosophy in Apology

    Plato was known to be one of Socrates ' students, and knew him for over 40 years. Although Plato 's version of Apology is popularly believed to be (the most accurate) historical recount of what happened in 399 B.C on the day of Socrates ' trial, historians cannot be sure the validity of everything he wrote. It can be argued that it is actually a philosophical work, remarking on the teachings of Socrates and his beliefs, which he stood by even until his death. Plato does attempt to develop a new mission for philosophy through this text. By writing Apology, Plato hopes to inspire "deeper thinking" amongst everyone. There are three main themes in Apology that seemed to show Plato and Socrates ' philosophies. These themes attribute to what they hope to instill in others, and are akin to their other teachings. Some of these are 'moral codes ', while others are contrasts to other philosophies.…

    • 1367 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Three Ways of Being with Technology
    • 1539 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Three Ways of Being with Technology

    Socrates argues that because of the supreme importance of the ethical and political issues, human beings…

    • 1539 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Platos Apology
    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Platos Apology

    Plato’s Apology is a narrative of the famous speech of Socrates that is made during his trial. Instead of apologizing, Socrates attempts to defend himself and his actions. He is put on trial due to his accusations of corrupting Athens, not acknowledging the same gods as the state, and creating new gods. During his dialogue, Socrates remains very calm and speaks with honesty. He focuses on what is said rather than his manner of speech.…

    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sophocles Oedipus The King
    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Sophocles Oedipus The King

    Plato believes that in order to live your best(happiest) life you must first know what is best. In Plato’s Meno they ask the question of what is virtue. In the dialogue Socrates argues that virtue can not be defined simply as the desire to want good things and the ability to acquire them, for Socrates states that no one actually desires bad things.…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Insight of Plato's Gorgias
    • 1723 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Insight of Plato's Gorgias

    he directs his arguments towards the pursuit of pleasure, as he implies it is the highest good of…

    • 1723 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Critical Analysis of Plato’s Apology 40c-42a
    • 2158 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Critical Analysis of Plato’s Apology 40c-42a

    Plato’s Apology is one of the most well-known pieces of Plato’s writing today, perhaps due to a certain dramatic style and context that can appeal to any reader. The ‘Apology’ is the defence speech of Socrates before the court at a trial for his life. He has been accused of deliberately corrupting the young and of non-belief in the Athenians’ gods. It is widely accepted that this is a true event, Socrates was tried, found guilty and put to death. What is not known for certain is the accuracy of Plato’s account of his defence. David Leibowitz tells us that the Greek title is ambiguous and could mean a defence speech either for or by Socrates. From this it is hard to discern if the Apology as we know it was written by Plato or Socrates, or if indeed it is Plato’s carefully edited version of Socrates actual speech. To understand and take the most from the speech we must forget the issue of authenticity. This is at least the defence speech of Plato’s Socrates and there is much to be gained from close reading of the entire text.…

    • 2158 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More