Apology Reflection - 989 Words

Throughout high school, I was heavily involved in speech and debate, competing in the â€Å"sport† for three years. Although I faced many arduous challenges within the activity, I learned the importance of examining various aspects of life in a systematic and thorough way. Likewise, as I read Plato’s Apology, I began to realize that an essential part of simply living our lives is to also examine and dig deeper into our internal being. In fact, Socrates exclaimed that â€Å"an unexamined life is not worth living† (Plato, 2006, para. 68), but what does he mean by this? When Socrates made this bold statement, I believe that he was stating that we should always question, examine, and define our lives. Why? Because if we don’t examine our own lives,†¦show more content†¦Why? These individuals thought they were wise, but in reality, they were not wise; this made them appear foolish in the eyes of Socrates. Therefore, Socrates concluded that the orac le was truthful: Socrates was the wisest of men. But why is this? Socrates explains that â€Å"I am better off than he is – for he knows nothing, and thinks he knows; I neither know nor think that I know† (Plato, 2006, para. 7). Yet Socrates explains further the importance of us recognizing that we know little. He states that â€Å"only God is wise †¦ the wisdom of men is worth little or nothing† (Plato, 2006, para. 10). This is a significant aspect Apology because Socrates realized that in order to understand his value and purpose as a man of wisdom, he must fully examine, question, and define certain aspects of not only his life, but also of society. And in the end, he realized that the only reason he is wise is that he understands that he actually isn’t wise because human wisdom is practically worth nothing compared to God’s divine wisdom. Yet Socrates truly lives out this statement of â€Å"the unexamined life is not worth living† by the importance he places on his own honor. Later in the Apology, the Athenians asked Socrates if he’s ashamed that he lived a life that will be finished soon. Socrates answered that he’s more concerned with whether he lived a right or wrong life. Essentially, Socrates explained to the Athenians that he was sent by God to share his gifts of examining theShow MoreRelatedReflection Of Socratess Apology872 Words   |  4 PagesIn Apology, Socrates states that he wishes to end his life in the same way that he has lived. â€Å"I would much rather die after this kind of defense than live after making the other kind.† (38e) He would much rather remain composed in the way he defends himself in trial than beg for mercy. He is consistent in the nature of his defense as he continues to discuss and question why he has been convicted. And thus, he is staying to true to his way of being a philosopher. In order for Socrates to feel likeRead More Platos Apology Essay1086 Words   |  5 PagesPlatos Apology Plato’s Apology is the story of the trial of Socrates, the charges brought against him and his maintaining of his own innocence throughout the process. At the onset of the trial, Socrates appears to challenging the charges, which included corrupting the youth, challenging belief in the gods that were accepted and reveled by the State, and introducing a new religious focus, but also belittles his own significance and suggesting that he will not attempt to disprove thatRead MoreLosing Liberty: How Obama Put America On the Road to Nowhere1216 Words   |  5 Pagesa course on art history? There have been countless accords on the suppression of freedom of thought, these accords span from the 21st century to the 4th century B.C. The most prominent being the prosecution of the philosopher Socrates. In the Apology of Socrates, Plato makes many points, but one key point parallels that discussed above: Socrates maintained that any individual at any cost, refuse to be coerced by any human authority or tribunal into a course which his own mind condemns as wrongRead MorePlatos The Apology : The Meaning Of Life759 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s â€Å"The Apology† takes places in Athens in 399 BC. Socrates, a natural philosopher, is put on trial and accused of failing to recognize the god of Athens, creating new deities, and corrupting the minds of the city youth. The Athenians, Anytus, Meletus, and Lycon fear that Socrates’ teachings lack respect for the legal customs and religious beliefs established in the city and could create a damaging effect on Athens ’ community (Dan I.(n.d.). In this piece, Plato writes an account of Socrates’Read MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Road Not Taken By Gwendolyn Brooks980 Words   |  4 PagesGwendolyn Brooks. Both of these poems show decisions made on the speakers part and how the reader can relate to the speakers feelings about their decisions. â€Å"The Road Not Taken† opens with a man in the woods, looking down two equally worn paths. It is a reflection on his part. This incident happened in the past and years later he is looking back at it. He recalls trying to look down both paths to see where they go, but both paths are so jagged that he can’t see very far into them. Therefore he must choseRead MoreAllegory Of The Cave Readings And Good Brahmins By Voltaire733 Words   |  3 Pagesassignment for this class is to compare the different philosophy viewpoints of Plato’s Apology and Allegory of the Cave Readings with Good Brahmins by Voltaire. A recapitulation of the Apology, Allegory of the Cave Readings and Good Brahmins will provided, evaluating each story’s position. Finally, concluding both Socrates’ and the Good Brahmin’s into my own philosophical understanding and perspective. First, Apology. This is Plato’s narrative of Socrates trial for charges â€Å"that Socrates is a doerRead MoreThe Greatest Good For A Man840 Words   |  4 Pagessignificant internal and external challenges, the benefits of living an examined life substantially outweigh its disadvantages as illustrated by Socrates in Plato’s various texts. But what exactly is the examined life and what are its components? In The Apology, Socrates conveys the importance of relinquishing material possessions or bodily pursuits, and instead seeking the â€Å"best possible state of your soul† (30a). According to Socrates, in order to live a truly satisfying life, one must stop concerningRead More Representations of Native Americans in Dances with Wolves and The Searchers1379 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"Film is more than the instrument of a representation; it is also the object of representation. It is not a reflection or a refraction of the ‘real’; instead, it is like a photograph of the mirrored reflection of a painted image.† (Kilpatrick) Although films have found a place in society for about a century, the labels they possess, such as stereotypes which Natives American are recognized for, have their roots from many centuries ago (Kilpatrick). The Searchers, a movie directed by John Ford andRead MoreForgivene ss : A Victim Offender Mediation Story With The Community Justice Initiatives Association1087 Words   |  5 Pageswhich led to her forgiving the offender after the mediation process. Forgiveness is not an easy process for any person that has been victimized in any kind of way. Forgiveness is process of patience and the allowing you to accept ones sincere apology. The process of forgiveness of a person that has been victimized isn’t for the offender to benefit from the act of forgiveness but instead it’s the person that was victimized to release resentment from the act and allow them to grow as a person inRead MoreTry to Persuade Socrates Friends to Save Him Against His Will1191 Words   |  5 Pagesprison or not and gives arguments why he needs to stay and waiting for his death. Crito really wants to save his close friend but Socrates explain his wisdom thoughts: † I am the kind of man who listens to nothing within me but 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 seem to me much the same. I value and respect the same principles as before, and If we have no better arguments to bring up at this moment, be sure