FREE ESSAY ON SOCRATES

SOCRATES

SOCRATES THE PHILOSOPHER
Socrates is a noteworthy and important historical figure as a philosopher, because of his
and his pupils' influence on the development of the philosophical world. His teachings,
famous arguments, and ideas began the outgrowth of all later western philosophies.
Born in 469 BC just outside of Athens, Socrates was brought up properly, and thoroughly
educated. He was raised as most Athenians; developing both physical and mental strengths.
Socrates then went on to learn from Archelaus the philosopher. Here he studied astronomy,
mathematics, and was introduced to philosophy, which was a new concept at the time.
Archelaus taught of explanations for the world with a scientific approach. Socrates,
however, turned away from this idea and created his own. He decided that instead of
trying to understand the universe, a person should try to understand himself. To express
his philosophy, Socrates spent his days in the marketplace of Athens, telling people of
his ideas. His voice was heard, and he was soon declared to be the wisest of all men.
Socrates' was skilled in the art of arguing. He developed a method by which he would win
every debate. His favorite hobby was going to the marketplace and debating philosophical
issues with other men in front of an audience. The result of these debates was that
Socrates embarrassed the wise men in front of the crowd. This caused many to dislike
him.
After being named the wisest man, Socrates attempted to prove that this was not true. He
debated with many men in the streets. These debates are some of his most famous argument
methods. He started the discussion by stating that he knew nothing. As a result of the
debate, he was able to prove that although his opponents claimed that they were wise,
they knew nothing either. Socrates concluded that he really was the wisest man because
unlike the others, he knew that he knew nothing.
Socrates had many ideas and philosophies concerning issues other than the knowledge of
oneself. These included explanations of the universe, the belief in god, and life's
goals. Other, earlier philosophers, had many different interpretation for the makeup of
the world. Some believed that it was made out of numbers, others thought that it was made
of a single substance, or many different substances, while still conflicting philosophers
theorized that everything was formed out of atoms, and even illusions. Socrates had his
own, different ideas. He believed that the world was made of forms that are not within
the reach of our senses, but only of our thoughts. This means, for example, that when we
think of characteristics such as roundness, we only picture ideas of it like a ball or a
wheel. Therefore, he assumed that we only understand specific things that participate in
our lives.
In his search for the inner truth of oneself, Socrates theorized the explanation to the
question of what the goals of life are. He concluded that everyone tries to find the
meaning of happiness and goodness in their existence. This is the purpose of life.
However, true happiness comes in many forms and is disguised in a way that people spend
their lives looking for goodness, but finding only the evil in which it is concealed. The
only way to discover true happiness, goodness, and the right way, is to fully understand
oneself.
Socrates did not believe in the Greek gods or religion. He had his personal view of god.
Socrates felt that there must be some form of divine power because everyone seemed to
believe in some kind of god and religion. He also believed in a sort of immortality. He
hypothesized that there was an afterlife. His explanation for it was that people who had
achieved goodness in their lives knew where they were going afterwards, and that evil
people tried to ignore the fact that immortality existed. He preached that the soul was a
person's true being, and that our goodness in life reflected on the goodness of our
souls. According to Socrates, each individual should try to make his soul as moral as
possible so that it can be like god, which will allow the achievement of an afterlife.
Debating in the marketplace of Athens was not Socrates' only daily activity. He also
taught his philosophies to a group of students in a small classroom. These students were
much like disciples. They respected and followed in the philosophies of their teacher.
Socrates' most famous pupil, Plato, went on to become a great philosopher like his
mentor.
Socrates lived through and fought in the Peloponnesian War. After Athens' defeat, the
democracy was replaced by a tyranny. This did not bother Socrates much because his belief
in government was a rather simple and apathetic one. He thought that no matter what kind
of government subsists; it should be followed solely because a form of law and order must
exist in a society to control it.
One of the tyranny's leaders was a former pupil of Socrates and hated his teacher. He
tried to make life harder for Socrates by banning the teaching of philosophy in the
streets. Socrates ignored him. In response to this, the tyrant tried to kill Socrates;
but the tyranny was overthrown right on time to prevent this. A new democratic government
came into power, the leader of which, Anytus, also hated Socrates because his son, who
was the philosopher's pupil, turned away from the family's business to become a
philosopher. Anytus had Socrates arrested on charges of corrupting Athens' young and
turning them away from Paganism, the Greek religion involving a belief in many gods.
Anytus announced the death penalty as a punishment for this crime. It was obviously an
outrageous sentence for a crime that was not even committed. Socrates was brought before
a jury and instead of using his debating skills to defend himself, he did nothing in his
own defense because he was convinced that the entire trial was a joke. The jury voted on
the death penalty. Now Socrates had a chance to appeal to the court. He was entitled to
suggest forms of punishment other than death to satisfy his crime. Instead of proposing a
reasonable penalty, Socrates suggested ridiculous ones which angered the jury; causing
them to vote on the death penalty once again. Socrates did not seem to mind at all. He
was sent to prison and lived their surrounded by his friends and disciples for his last
few days. His life ended by drinking hemlock as his friends cried at his bedside. Only
after this scandalous death, did all of Greece realize what they had done; that they had
killed one of the greatest philosophers of all time.
Socrates' life achievements were vast. He introduced new ideas and theories into the
philosophical world. His pupil, Plato, went on to influence all of the western world's
philosophical development. Socrates began the evolution of philosophy throughout the
world. He took the first step toward advancing modern philosophy, as we know it. His
theories and ideas were a whole new concept that helped progress the western philosophy
through all of later history.
In conclusion, Socrates' historical importance is great, due to his extreme influence on
the evolution of the world's ideas of philosophy. Even though Socrates never made written
records of his work, his finest and most successful pupil, Plato, recorded much of his
teacher's accomplishments and deeds. From these history has learned so much as to be able
to advance and heighten its entire philosophical viewpoints; and until this day, learn
from the ancient philosopher, Socrates.
INTERVEIW WITH A PHILOSOPHER:
Mark - Socrates, you were raised and educated in many different fields, why did you
decide to spend your life as a philosopher?
Socrates - It is true that I have been educated in the arts, literature, and gymnastics
as a youth; but in my continuing education as you may already know, I was taught by
Anaxagoras, the famous early philosopher. His theories were not ones with which I would
agree; such as those stating that all things were made of tiny substances which contained
a little of everything, that the sun was a hot rock, and that the moon was made of earth.
For these teachings, he was banished from Athens. Nevertheless, he was a good teacher and
allowed me to realize that my philosophies were going to be antiscientific and quite
different from his. My following philosophical teacher was Archelaus, with whom I studied
mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. I knew that my opinions and theories were strong,
I had performing and arguing skills, and my ideas would consist of principles rather than
sciences. The simple lifestyle of the philosopher appeals to me. I enjoyed the unusual
behaviors that I associated myself with. All that really interested me was the great
mysteries of philosophy, and the questions of knowing oneself, which I devoted my life to
learning and teaching.
Mark - Your teaching was remarkable and much can be learned from studying it even after
your death; why is that you never bothered to record your works for later generations?
Socrates - Many have asked this before and for quite obvious reasons. Most other
noteworthy historical figures did keep a record of their works ever since the invention
of written language, yet not one of mine exists in writing. I do not exactly know the
reason for this. Whether there are records of my work or not, does not matter. I will
forever be remembered by my loyal pupils, the Athenian population, and the world.
Furthermore, nothing I ever said was of too great importance. And to tell you the truth,
I never really wanted to take the time to keep useless records. That nonsense did not
concern me nearly as much as most of my other problems as a philosopher. I had to make
money somehow, to support my wife and three sons. As you might have guessed, being a
philosopher does not exactly bring you riches. One of the reasons I began teaching was to
make money. Also, I had to deal with many people's constant hatred of me, mainly due to
my victories in debates against them. Some, with high political positions, even wanted me
dead at points of my life. And one even succeeded. So, you see, no matter how simple and
easy going my life may seem, there are quite a few difficulties attached to it. 
Mark - Your trial and death are quite interesting and famous historical events. They have
been interpreted by many and confused some; what caused you to make such drastic and
unusual decisions, the consequence of which you knew forehand?
Socrates - This I am aware of. As a matter of fact, some even claim that I was mentally
ill, and blame that as the cause for my actions. This of course I deny. The truth
includes a mixture between my philosophical beliefs and the thoughts that have occurred
to me during my last days. I always believed that there is an after-life. And that must
have somehow influenced my decisions. Even though the religious part of this came to me
only afterwards. At first many others and I thought that this ridiculous trial was an
obvious hoax. Who would have thought that such a crime, which I was evidently not guilty
of, be punished by the death penalty. I fooled with the court. They on the other hand
were quite serious about it. In the last days, I realized that there was no way out. True
I could have argued with the court and won. I could have escaped using the plan devised
by my dear friends. But since there was a high-ranking leader who wanted me dead, it was
going to happen no matter what. Furthermore, my governmental beliefs stand true in all
situations; the law should be followed and that is all. There was not much I was willing
to do. After some thinking, I decided to go along with the law, after all, I had lived a
happy life. One that I was proud of living, no matter how unusual it may appear to
others. I was an old man of seventy. I found and understood myself, and had achieved
happiness and goodness. There was nothing more that I desired. I knew what was waiting
for me after death and was ready for it.