Last Days of Socrates
Socrates was called "The Hero of Western Philosophy". He had an inner conscience. He would hold gatherings in market places and his main aim was to improve the social and political structure of the country. He adopted the method of questioning and he would use the two steps to his method of questioning which was "pleading ignorance" and "cross questioning". These two methods were used by him for the examination of basic moral concepts which were the virtues of piety, wisdom, temperance, courage, and justice. He would say" I know that I know nothing". This was also called "dialectic" or "elanchus".He also envisioned a perfect state called" Republic" where the rulers of the city would be philosophers. He also said that" Truth lies beyond the shadows of our everyday experiences and only a philosopher could show how incapable we are and only he could rule a state". He felt that knowledge and life experiences make a person virtuous and just.
Also even if we have somebody like Socrates, who religiously follow the path of truth, but when the appropriate time arrives, even they also do not prefer being truthful, owing to the fear of punishment or troubles. In view of his beliefs of living a "good" and a "just" life, Socrates proved that he was ethically correct by refusing to recant his beliefs. Meanwhile, Socrates was also given an option of escaping the death sentence. Therefore "truth" really has no proper position in our today's society. By remaining in Athens, he tactically accepted the laws of Athens. During his trial, he denied all accusations and attempted to defend himself by proving his innocence using reason. " To do wrong and to disobey my superior, whether god or man is wicked and dishonorable" (82). He was judged to be guilty and given a death sentence. Although he was wrongly accused, he felt obligated to accept the ruling of the jury. He did not fear death or physical harm, what he feared was acting unjustly, causing spiritual harm. He would not commit an act deemed to be unjust, even if it was in retaliation to an unjust act because this would tarnish his soul. But, since Socrates choose "truth", he didn't prefer the option of escaping the death sentence. Socrates felt that verdicts must be carried out; irrespective of the fact that they were not reached correctly. " There are certain things, most notably the pursuit of the truth which is more important in life" (81). Even when his close friend in prison, Crito, asks him to escape, he answers saying "Escaping prison is acting in retaliation towards the laws of justice".
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