Similarities Between Plato And Socrates

According to the Oxford dictionary, a gadfly is a fly that bites and agitates livestock. In Plato’s Apology, it is claimed that Socrates compares himself to a gadfly that is attached to the city of Athens (29e). Then, in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. mentions Socrates in his letter to the clergymen and compares himself to Socrates claiming, “so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society…” (89-90). In both passages, there is an importance to be a gadfly in society and by being a gadfly, both men are able to create a change in their societies.

Lastly, I will explain to the reader why Socrates’ convictions are stronger and more important because he asserts a moral attitude into his decision. In any just or unjust

Each of us has a different sense of what is good and what is bad. Despite the differences in perspective, overall everyone gets a sense of what differs between the two. So it is true that a person may know between what is right and what is wrong, but it is not to say that their choices determine what kind of person they are. Inside all of us there exists both good and bad, and there is a constant struggle as to plays a big part in who they become. For example, during the Iraq War, innocent children were handed grenades and told that doing so was for right and for the good of their community.

He launches a new definition of justice: justice means that you owe friends help, and you owe enemies harm. Socrates shows many contradictions in this view. He declares that, because our judgment concerning friends and enemies is fallible, this will lead us to harm the good and help the bad. Socrates points out that there is some contradictions in the idea of harming people through justice. Socrates then conclude that injustice cannot be a virtue because it is contrary to wisdom, which is a virtue.

This could mean that Socrates had understood, or at least on the way to understanding what is the good and how to obtain it. This interpretation also explain Socrates´s behavior, as recounted by Alcibiades. Socrates spend most of his time either thinking(220D), or talking and philosophizing with others(221D, 222E).He seem to show extreme calmness and unrivaled self control( 221B). He does not desire physical beauty, money,power, or anything else that Alcibiades might be interested in(216E), and seem to only be concerned about giving speeches and

The just person’s soul entails motive for certain kinds of objects the most important of which is knowledge. Socrates describes the hardship and extreme effort required to gain knowledge of the forms and the form of the good, thus the just person will seek learning and not spend time to take care of the satisfaction of desires that typically lead to unjust actions. This approach to unite the gap between a just soul and just actions may have some drawbacks. One negative aspect may be that several unjust actions may be motivated by desires that are compatible with the desire for knowledge. For example, why wouldn’t a person with a great fascination for knowledge steal a book if it would contribute to their

Socrates is quoted as stating, “An unexamined life is a life not worth living” (38 a). Socrates was a founding figure of western philosophy, and a stable for many ideas. He lived in Athens, Greece teaching his students, like Plato, questioning politics, ethical choices, and many other things in Greek society. In the Trial and death of Socrates: Four Dialogues by Plato, it explores the abstract questioning Socrates had towards many of the normal social properties, which led to his trial, resulting in his death. The most important aspects discussed in the dialogues is the questioning of what is pious and impious, what it means to be wise, and good life.

pious vs. impious Euthyphro – going against his father for murder Meletus – against socrates for corrupting the youth. Accuses him of being a neologian, makes new gods, denies old ones. Ministration – the provision of assistance, or care Husbandman – person who cultivates land, a farmer Does god say things that are good, or do things become good because god says them?

He held that upright life is the only life worth living. To him, justice was a matter of knowledge and hence, a truth aspect. Meanwhile, he honored and acknowledged his duty to obey the Laws of the state. From Socrates' perspective, Laws are absolute.

The world we live in is filled with crime, evil, and injustice, but do people have the desire to do bad things knowing that they are bad, or do they do them thinking that they are good? In this essay, I examine Socrates argument, found in Plato’s Meno, that no one knowingly desires bad things. If Socrates were right, it would mean that it is impossible for someone to perform a bad action based on their desire for that bad thing. Instead, all bad desires result from the ignorance of the person performing the action in falsely believing that the action is good. Though Socrates presents a compelling argument, I argue that it is possible for someone to act badly, all the while knowing that what they desire is bad.

Socrates bases this view of justice on the worth of living a good life. “And is life worth living for us with that part of us corrupted by unjust actions” (47e) If we corrupt our soul with injustice, our life would not be worth living, therefore one must never commit an injustice. “When one has come to an agreement that is just with someone, one should fulfill it.”(49e) It is this agreement with the Laws that Socrates would be violating, if he were to

Plato wrote a lot of important philosophical works during his lifetime, but some of the most important ones are his works involving Socrates. With these works, Plato touched upon important beliefs that seem clear-cut to us but are much more complicated than believed. One of these beliefs involves the meaning and importance of knowledge. Plato writes to describe knowledge in his works Protagoras, Euthydemus, and Meno. There are three points he brings up involving proper knowledge: the importance of good teaching, the necessity of knowledge to do good in the world, and how virtue is a type of knowledge.

Philosophical thinking uses three acts of the mind: understanding, judgement, and reason. In order to have a sound argument all of the concepts must be applied. Socrates didn’t want to please the people by saying or doing what they wanted him to say or do. Socrates thought it was not important to seek wealth or fame; he was concerned with truth and virtue. He wanted to create an impact on humanity by relying on the truth and shining a light in people’s lives, even if they put him on trial.

Starting from scratch, Socrates in Book II of Plato’s The Republic attempts to visualise an ideal city in order to explore further the notion of political justice and where it fits within the boundaries of that city. He attempts to figure out the essential components that a utopia of his time’s standards needs to consist of and initially proposes a model of a city characterised by simplicity, moderation and the production of resources just enough to satisfy people’s basic needs. Glaucon, on the other hand, calls this model a “city of pigs” initiating further discussion as to what is necessary, ideal and appropriate for a human being. He insists on introducing luxury on all aspects and other elements necessary for the symposium (which was considered

Plato saw that the best way to rule a city was to have a just ruler who worked to keep all citizens doing their jobs. Plato defines morality, or being just, as being aware of your specific function in society and sticking to your pre-ordained path. Justice is every part of the soul doing what it is supposed to do, without meddling with other parts. A city is considered just when the rulers rule over the producers with the help of the auxiliaries, and a soul is considered just when reason rules over the appetites with the help of the spirit. This is a good state to be in if one wants to be a ruler, since a just person is “polite and innocent,” while an unjust person is rude and guilty (349b).