pols 250 paper Essays - Ancient Greek Philosophy, Socratic Dialogues

Western civilization was built on the teachings and philosophies of Socrates and Jesus Christ, these two men are the two most influential thinkers of their time. Jesus was a man of great character who had abundant love and followed his divine calling while Socrates made a mockery of theism and divination; Jesus has become infamous and his teaching has become the religion of at least 2 billion. Jesus is superior to Socrates and this is evident through the description of their trial, their death, their similarities and their differences. Socrates was a Greek philosopher who is considered the father of western philosophy and a contributor to western civilization, he was executed for his opposition to the state and the examined lifestyle he led. Socrates represents a view point of virtue, he presents that the philosophical life is the best life; he is put to death for his teachings. Socrates was executed in 399 B.C.E in Athens, his infamous trial was documented by his student, Plato who distributed "The Apology," 40-50 after the trial occurred. Socrates allowed himself to be put on trial because he believed that his death would shine light on his life as well as his teachings; thus, he intentionally lost the trial. At 70, Socrates was put on trial for atheism, his investigation of things below and aloft of the Earth, his education to younger students, and the corruption of the youth of Athens; these charges were pressed Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon. Throughout the entirety of the trial he never stopped talking and searched for justification for his charges. Socrates initially conveyed that the judges will commit an injustice if they accuse him, he would go down in history as a just philosopher who was unjustly convicted, and his execution would be the most unjust thing. Although Socrates claims that it would be an injustice, it is an injustice he is counting on to complete his selfish agenda. From this Socrates attempts to say that Athens is a horse and he is the horse fly: he awakens Athens, persuades them, and will not stop until moral excellence has been reached. Thus, presenting the notion that without Socrates Athens will be spiritually dead and that Athens needs Socratic wisdom. Meletus accuses Socrates of investigating things that are aloft and under the Earth, but Socrates refutes this and provides justification for his attendance at the Marketplace of ideas. Socrates claims that he does not pursue the things that are under and aloft the Earth, but rather he is cross-examining. The Delphic Oracle claimed that there was no one wiser than Socrates, the Oracle cannot lie but Socrates claims that he has no wisdom; a philosopher has to be aware of his ignorance. Socrates desired to refute the Oracle and undermine Apollos authority. He interrogated poets, craftsmen, politicians, and anyone who claimed to be wise; but no one could escape a contradiction which left Socrates as the wisest man in Athens. Socrates cross-examines for 24 years, claiming to refute the Oracle as well as Apollo. Socrates claims that this is his divine calling from the daemon, but his cross-examination actually gives him his disciples; they turn to Socrates and are devoted to him entire ly. Since Socrates was accused of investigation of things under and aloft the Earth which he claimed was his vocation by divine things, but his divination caused him to contradict those he questioned which led to young men being converted. From this, Socrates had educated the youth of Athens and corrupted them to atheism. His atheist charge becomes a laughing matter because he dismisses the other charges since he claims they all stem from his divine calling; but he in fact is a secular man who pretends to be polytheistic to make a mockery of Athenians. From the trial and the defence that Socrates formed, he was found guilty with 280 votes and he was found not guilty with 220 votes; after Socrates degradation of Athens he was sent to be executed. After the jury voted, there was a 30-vote difference, which would allow for Socrates to get off with a fine instead of exile or execution. Instead of having a reasonable counter proposal Socrates had suggested that