Plato and Socrates Essay Example for Free

Plato and Socrates Essay Socrates, in his conviction from the Athenian jury, was both innocent and guilty as charged. In Platos Five Dialogues, accounts of events ranging from just prior to Socrates entry into the courthouse up until his mouthful of hemlock, both points are represented. Socrates in dealing with moral law was not guilty of the crimes he was accused of by Meletus. Socrates was only guilty as charged because his peers had concluded him as such. The laws didnt find Socrates guilty; Socrates was guilty because his jurors enforced the laws. The law couldnt enforce itself. Socrates was accused of corrupting Athens youth, not believing in the gods of the city and creating his own gods. In the Euthyphro, Socrates defends himself against the blasphemous charges outside the courthouse to a priest Euthyphro. Socrates looks to the priest to tell him what exactly is pious so that he may educate himself as to why he would be perceived as impious. Found in the Apology, another of Platos Five Dialogues, Socrates aims to defend his principles to the five hundred and one person jury. Finally, the Crito, an account of Socrates final discussion with his good friend Crito, Socrates is offered an opportunity to escape the prison and his death sentence. As is known, Socrates rejected the suggestion. It is in the Euthyphro and the Apology that it can be deduced that Socrates is not guilty as charged, he had done nothing wrong and he properly defended himself. However, in the Crito, it is shown that Socrates is guilty only in the interpretation and enforcement of Athens laws through the court system and its jurors. Socrates accusations of being blasphemous are also seen as being treasonous. In the Euthyphro, Socrates is making his way into the courthouse; however, prior to entering he had a discussion with a young priest of Athens, Euthyphro. This dialogue relates religion and justice to one another and the manner in which they correlate. Euthyphro feels as though justice necessitates religion and Socrates feels the opposite, religion necessitates justice. Euthyphro claims that religion is everything, justice, habits, traditions, customs, cultures, etc. all are derived from religion. Socrates went on to question what exactly would be the definition of pious. Euthyphro offered Socrates three definitions of pious and in all three Socrates was able to successfully find fault. The first definition Euthyphro offered was that piety is the life he lives (5e). Socrates disputed this definition because he said that Euthyphros way of life may be pious, but it is not the definition of pious. If it were the exact definition, only Euthyphro would be pious. He said that Euthyphro did not understand the difference between a definition and an example. Next, Euthyphro says that piety is found in things that are dear to the gods (7a). Socrates again rejected Euthyphros definition of piety. The Greek gods were anthropomorphic; therefore, another may despise what would be dear to one god. This definition offered was not distinct. Finally, Euthyphro said that what is pious is what loved by the gods (9e). However, Euthyphro cant answer whether something is pious because it is loved or it is loved because it is pious. He cant conceive the difference between cause and effect. It is in the Euthyphro that Socrates begins his defense of his actions and principles to the reader. A priest cant give him a concise answer as to what is religious; therefore, how can anyone else, especially one less religiously guided than a priest, accuse him of blasphemous actions? In the Apology, Socrates aimed to do three things: defend his ideas and principles, continue to teach those who will open their mind and state that he knew regardless of what he said he was aware that all five hundred and one jurors knew who he was and disliked him. Socrates was well aware of the fact that he had made multiple enemies, he knew that the politicians, poets, rich and craftsmen all had reasons to dislike his actions. Socrates went as far as to accuse the jury as not trusting the gods because they had not believed the oracle when it said that Socrates was the wisest in all of Athens (20d-e). If the jury and the people of Athens believed the oracle, the word of the gods, then Socrates would not be on trial. In the Apology, or defense, Socrates aims to legally justify his actions. He is accused of three things: corrupting Athens youth, not believing in the gods of the city and making up new gods. All three charges can be related back to treason and a large penalty. Socrates almost laughs off the first charge of corrupting the youth. He made a sensible argument as to why that charge made no sense and had no base. He said that willingly corrupting the youth of Athens would only make his living there more difficult. Logically, no one would aim to make his or her home a more dangerous, corrupt place to live (25d). He then asks his accusers to present some sort of evidence, a corrupted youth. Socrates knew that none of his students would speak out against him. To defend himself against the second and third charges, Socrates simply says that his belief in any new gods would necessitate believing in the old gods because the new gods are derived from the old gods (26c). In the Apology, conceivably, Socrates defended himself decisively against the three legal charges brought upon him. He was able to offer sufficient resistance, with a lack of prosecuting evidence, against the allegations. Plato uses the Crito, a discussion between Socrates and Crito, to display exactly why, even though innocent, Socrates accepted the penalties bestowed upon him. Socrates has thoroughly justified his own decision to obey the opinions of the majority and serve out the sentence that his own city has deemed appropriate for his crimes. Throughout the dialogue Socrates is explaining his reasoning for not running from the government. Crito does not understand the madness of Socrates, Crito will do whatever it takes to help his friend to flee, instead of being exiled by the government. I do not think that what you are doing is right, to give up your life when you can save it, and to hasten your fate as your enemies would hasten it, and indeed have hastened it in their wish to destroy you (58c). Throughout the Crito, two major ideas are established in the discussion of the two friends. The first being that a person must decide whether the society in which they live has a just reasoning behind its own standards of right and wrong. It is also examined whether or not the person has the option to leave if they dont agree with the laws of the city. Socrates has lived his whole life in Athens; therefore, he feels that there is an implied contract between himself and the laws of Athens. Not one of our laws raises any obstacle or forbids him, if he is not satisfied with us or the city, if one of you wants to go and live in a colony or wants to go anywhere else, and keep his property (63d). Socrates states; that making a conscious choice or effort to remain under the influence of a society is an unconscious agreement with that society to live your life by its standards and virtues. The second concept established between Socrates and Crito is that a person must have pride in the life that he or she leads. If Socrates does not face the penalties enforced, it would be the same as him disrespecting his own morals and principles. He would have followed them until they led him to hardships, and then abandoned them. In this, Socrates feels that escaping to survive would only result in the death of his teachings, the reason why he lives. I am the kind of man who listens only to the argument that on reflection seems best to me. I cannot, now that this fate has come upon me, discard the arguments I used; they seen to me much the same (59b). In establishing basic questions of these two concepts, Socrates has precluded his own circumstance and attempted to prove to his companion Crito, that the choice that he has made is just. He states that his decision is justified by the fact that the laws and governing agents of the society must command a certain degree of respect. Any person who would unjustly disobey these laws creates a deliberate attempt to destroy them, as well as, the society that has imposed them. However, that whoever of you remains when he sees how we conduct our trials and manage the city in other ways, has in fact come to an agreement with us to obey our instructions (63e). If the decisions of the citys governing agents are not thoroughly respected as just and cohesive parts of society, the very structure by which the society stands is subject to collapse. Socrates was not guilty as charged; he had done nothing wrong, as seen in the Apology. Not even a priest could tell Socrates what he had done wrong religiously, Euthyphro wasnt even able to give Socrates a precise definition of piety. It is then questioned by Crito why Socrates would remain to face a penalty for a crime he did not commit. In the Crito, it is explained why, although innocent, Socrates must accept the penalties his peers have set upon him. It is his peers that will interpret and enforce the laws, not the law which will enforce it. Even if the enforcers dont deserve attention and respect because they have no real knowledge to the situation, Socrates had put himself under their judgment by going to the trial. Therefore, Socrates must respect the decisions made by the masses because the decisions are made to represent the laws, which demand each citizens respect.

shadow of a doubt Essay examples -- essays research papers

Charlie-Horse   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Shadow of a Doubt, Hitchcock utilizes and stretches the ambiguous line between comedy and suspense by utilizing smaller characters in the film to keep the story line moving, and to help break sequence or rhythm of what the audience had been perceiving at the time. Many of the minor characters were used as â€Å"fillers†, such as the waitress in the bar when Uncle Charlie and Charlie are sitting in the bar, and makes the comment â€Å"I would die for a ring like this†; or the quiet, gentle neighbor Herb who is fascinated with the process of homicide and murder. It brings to the audience an immediate comic relief, but similar to all of Hitchcock, leaves an unsettling feeling of fear and suspense with the viewer. Shadow of a Doubt is a film that hits very close to home for me, primarily because of the small town feel very similar to Orono that I have grown to know so well. There is a brutal irony that lurks through the film, especially during the tim e period that the film was made. The picturesque stereotype of small town life in the 40’s is brutally torn apart by Hitchcock wit and creative ingà ©nue, putting the viewer in an uncomfortable mind stretch of reality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first instance of ambiguity between comedy/drama begins directly at the beginning credits of the film, with the brilliant shot of a uniform waltzing party, in carousel motion, or a perfect circle. From my perspective, I was unable to recognize w...

Ethics and Ethical Dilemma

The movie that I chose for ethical dilemma is the Disney movie called â€Å"UP†. It is a story based on an old man and how a boy’s scout boy helps the old man keep his house by floating the old man’s house with balloons. This is an adventurous movie. It has a lot of ups and downs. The ethical dilemma in this movie the man is old, his wife is dead and the city is building new buildings all around his house they want him to vacant his him go to an old folk’s home to live for the rest of his remaining life, which is the ethical thing to do.But instead the story is a bit far stretched out, but he ‘escapes' it in an unethical unrealistic way and floats his house away with balloons. The old man risks his life; the boys scout boy, and the dog. The situation could have been worse, where the old man’s house could fall anywhere in the story making this a terrible and unrealistic idea of saving his house. Another ethical dilemma in this movie is the bird ; it is obviously an endangered species. So does the original explorer guy have the right to capture the bird and show to the world?Or does the old man have the right to stop the explorer and rescue the bird? In my opinion the explorer has some rights, but the way he wants to make money out of the bird is unethical. The old man has the right to stop the explorer because the old man sees his self through the eyes of the bird and how he cannot live the life he wants to in his house. At the end not only does the old man not have to go to an old folk’s home, instead he keeps his house. Unrealistically the house sits right where the story started from. The movie showed how jam packed the city is, but the old man was able to restore his house.Once the house was where it started from, none of the city officials took any actions, but instead let the old man keep his house and the city officials built their buildings and roads around the house which could be a hazardous situation in t he future. The old man once again finds happiness from boy and dog and he never has to worry about construction again. He escapes reality so to speak. No matter how I look at this movie at an ethical point, all I can say is that sometimes unrealistic stories like â€Å"UP† teach us a good moral lesson about life.

Third world was/ is used to describe countries whose...

Third world was/ is used to describe countries whose government did not take sides in the cold war. It emerged out of anti – colonial nationalism activities and was used to replace the east – west conflict with the north – south conflict. All the countries deemed as third world has had a history of colonial rule, most were exploited through colonialism, imperialism, neo colonialism etc. while the third world countries were annexed and had direct government of a first country through colonialism; it was seen as a cost by the imperial powers rather than a benefit and one that was unavoidable. Imperialism was creating the condition for industrial capitalism and a modern nation-state and would produce the same consequences as it had of the†¦show more content†¦they taught the educated class would lead the mass into national consciousness but due to the fact that the educated class was lazy etc. it was just an â€Å"empty shell†, the educated class sought to the need s of the bourgeoisie and international society instead of the mass. Imperialism saw missionaries going places and doing what their country didn’t approve of , grabbing territories that there was no need for but didn’t want other imperialists to have , it replaced the culture of the natives with western norms, and lands were taken for viable trade routes between the third world and the west. Colonialism left behind a well organized bureaucracy whom new governments had to Staff with their own people who were often unqualified. Third world government thus inherited well organized bureaucracies nothing was changed just personnel trained to suit the post by the new government. However in order to have a functioning bureaucracy in a democratic society persons should be appointed based on merit not patronage , nepotism or corruption and it is this transparency that most third world countries are a long way from. In concluding politics and governance in the third world has come a long way from the colonial days but all the legacy of the old are still present in the form of corruption etc. in bureaucracies, many third world countries are still in poverty and grossly underdeveloped, in tryingShow MoreRelatedEssay about Understanding the Marshal Plan2027 Words   |  9 Pages1945, the year in which The Empire of Japan surrendered thus ending a war in which fifty to seventy million people died, that being World War II. 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