Philosophical Argument of Socrates - Essay Example

The main goal of his philosophic activity was to serve society. This activity was directed at the preparation of people with a high level of intelligence, moral virtues, and a strong feeling of obligation and responsibility, which could bring many benefits to society. He stated: “employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for” (Socrates).

He wanted young people to become more educated make fewer mistakes and not waste time on their correction. Socrates had a chance to stay alive. When he was considered guilty by the court, he had a chance to stay alive because he was already old and if he had decided to refuse his beliefs. But Socrates was not going to justify himself anyhow and refuse anything. This was a kind of sacrifice made to prove that he and his followers would keep revealing the truth, looking for the new “gods” and influencing new generations.

He did not only refuse to excuse his philosophic activity but also made such arguments, that the judges simply could not treat him nicely. He irritated judges by stating that he was not afraid of death. In the apology he stated: “to fear death, gentlemen, is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know. No one knows whether death may not be the greatest of all blessings for a man, yet men fear it as if they knew that it is the greatest of evils”(Socrates).

The philosopher said that he had been living for 70 years and knew pretty well what he liked and what he did not like and such a statement testified about his wisdom. He considered death to be a blessing for himself (May 2000). The conclusion can be made that Socrates may have been considered guilty in his times due to the laws, which were accepted by his society. However, it is not a reason to think that the accusations against him were well-founded. Socrates had strong beliefs and many of these beliefs are valued highly in our modern society, especially the one about the necessity of bringing up the new intelligent young generation.

Thus, we can conclude that his beliefs were really useful and he was executed due to incorrect laws, which he still respected despite all his ostensible irony.