Discussion of Phaedo, Apology and Crito - Term Paper Example

Critical Discussion of Phaedo, Apology and Crito as it relates to Immortality, Death, Human Freedom, and Knowledge The Socratic Method of Questioning has been turned into a philosophy in the form of three dialogues which serve as the epitome of Socratic Method. These are but not limited to Phaedo, Apology and Crito. In this paper, we will discuss the way in which Phaedo represents completion of Apology and Crito and how do these three dialogues relate to the problems of immortality, death, human freedom, and knowledge. Prompt 1: Phaedo represents completion of Apology and Crito Aside from Phaedo is the final stage of Socrates’ life, it represents completion of Apology and Crito because it encompasses full acceptance of death, supremacy of reasons, immortality of the soul, and theory of forms. Of all the reasons for completion, Socrates’ arguments about the immortality of the soul best condenses Phaedo. If Crito is the dialogue between an elderly Athenian friend named Crito and Socrates, Phaedo abstracts a scene of narration by Socrates’ cherished disciple, Phaedo. He was a spectator during Socrates’ final hour and death together with Simmias, Cebes, Crito, and Apollodorus. Even at his last moment, Socrates managed to provide reasons about conception and immortality of the soul after death, its relation to the body, and evidential existence of soul. Phaedo is the completion of Apology and Crito because it discusses something beyond death. One might argue that one’s life end when he faced death; Socrates argue that there is something more after the death of the physical body. He expounds this idea through arguments and discussion with his disciples. Upon reading Phaedo, one would be estranged why Socrates does not fear death and even exultant about it. This is because of his arguments about life, death, and soul. Socrates gives the strongest argument about full acceptance of death even if it’s due to execution or illness. Knowing that you’ll be facing death soon, one should not be reluctant to accept or deny it. We also do not have the right to commit suicide because we are God’s possessions. It is only God who have the right to His possession and it is only Him who could get the life He has given to us upon certain circumstances. Spending your life in Earth up until your last breath completes Apology and Crito as unleashing the soul is the superior of all. Upon analysis of Socrates’ arguments, the emergence of death signals the separation of the body and soul. It also embraces the reason that life and death cannot co-exist as life has the physical body while death unleashes the soul being trapped in the physical body. The onset of death is the key to separation and the start of the cycle of oppositeness. What is this cycle of oppositeness? It explicates Heraclitean doctrine that everything in the Earth is changing its form where life changes into death and death changes into life. Therefore, opposites leads to resurgence of another just as the night rebirths the day and the heat sublimates to cold. Death is also the completion of a true philosopher. Socrates’ argued that a true philosopher does not fear death for it will reveal the true or absolute existence of all forms. Our sensorial perception of justice, beauty and goodness in Earth is not true because our perceptions are troubled by our senses. To realize the true existence of justice, beauty, goodness and equality, senses must be eliminated. How can it be possible when you’re already dead? It is astoundingly possible. Remember the Heraclitean doctrine where life changes to death and death changes to life? Death eliminates all our senses up to the time when death changes to life – that is, birth. This explains why even as a child, we have the knowledge that things are equal, beautiful, good or evil, and right or wrong. Likewise, the immortality of the soul are also gradually expounded starting from the separation of the body from the soul, to what differentiates a true philosopher, and to the realization of the highest purity (abstract form) of justice, beauty, goodness and equality. It points out the idea that as death completes life, physical body will start to decompose and leave a trace; thus, making it mortal. On the other, souls is something that cannot be perceived by senses. No one have seen it, feel it, or even touch it. No one does know where it’ll go after death. As the soul is the peak of all purities and that it doesn’t leave a trail of its existence, we can say that it is divine and immortal. Prompt 2: Immortality, Death, Freedom, and Knowledge relates to Crito, Apology and Phaedo A. The Crito in relation to Death and Human Freedom Crito is a discussion between Socrates and Crito (elderly Athenian friend) a day before the execution of Socrates. Transcriptions of their discussion address human freedom, knowledge and death, particularly reasons for acceptance or escaping execution. Socrates discuss that life is controlled by the will of God. He showed willingness to face death because of the belief that it is God’s will. But Crito is such a good friend that he would do anything to convince Socrates to escape. Reasoning out that his reputation as a good friend will be put at risk if Socrates will not agree to plan of escape, the latter agreed using the concept of freedom. Human freedom could be purchased by paying money as reflected on the capability of Crito to bail Socrates out of jail. It is likewise practiced today in our time where a certain amount of money is used to provide temporary freedom to people who committed bail-abled crimes while the hearing is on the process. However, Socrates is a person who neither care in the reputation of his friend nor in the opinion of majority. He is aware of the harm of the disapproval of many but he argued that decisions should be made out of reasons and not on the opinion of others. This belief contradicts present occurrence as majority of our decisions are derived from majority-rule (e.g., election). Crito still proposed another argument that would convince Socrates and that is – acceptance of death means giving up all his dreams of future for the children because he has given up on nurturing them with education. He can also be viewed as a traitor who does not fulfill his obligations but instead, choose a smooth escape through death. Socrates emphasized that his principles will incessantly be honored and deciding for what is right should be influenced by emotions but rather by reasons. This put up a very good lesson in life that when making decisions, it is better to set aside one’s emotion and to look for reasons to arrive at a right and just decision free from emotional biases. In addition, Socrates belief may ascertain that not because majority of the people agreed to a decision, it means that you have to accept them. It is essential that you know how to make decisions based on good reasons. Even though not directly stated, Socrates must have believed to the ‘Law of Karma’ we have today. In the struggle to convince Socrates to escape, Crito reasoned out that it is justifiable for Socrates to escape since he was a victim of unjust laws. Based on the response of Socrates, he believes that even if you are a victim of unjust treatment, you must not return retaliate by equating another unjust or evil treatment. As the child of the state, we must let ourselves be governed by laws and regulations to promote peace and order. B. The Apology in relation to Quest for Knowledge and Death The Apology is the authentic record of Socrates defense before the Athenian Council as documented by Plato. Socrates has been accused of ancient and contemporary crimes because of his teachings and critique of present knowledge (e.g., mentioning Aristophanes in his comedy play The Clouds). To Socrates, knowledge must have an element of truth. More or less, Socrates does not easily accept information from others especially when it came to his knowledge that he is the wisest man in Athens. Instead, he conducts an investigation to determine the veracity of the prediction of the oracle by going to every wise citizen in Athens. Socrates left two interesting truths about his investigation: (1) the reputation of wisdom cannot be proven until you have challenged one and proved that you are better than them; and (2) people who are wise are those who are aware of their ignorance and yet they’re not upset about it. To be able to have knowledge means to be able to put the greatest importance among things. Some people may knowledge of some things but are particularly ignorant to spiritual divinities, morality and social welfare. Despite knowing that this trial might lead him to death, Socrates emphasize that it is essential to face death with honor rather than to live and dishonor yourself. Socrates’ complete obedience is to God and he believes that it would be dishonorable to escape from death it this is the will of God. Upon completion of the trial, Socrates had been sentenced to death; however, this could be changed into a considerable amount of money. Socrates bravely accepts death because putting money in behalf of your sentence would only mean that you accept guilt. In addition, Socrates emphasized that a man should always live by his virtue of righteousness even at the expense of one’s life. C. The Phaedo in relation to Immortality of the Soul In the first part of this paper, we justify how Phaedo is considered the completion of the Crito and the Apology. In this section, however, we will purely examine Phaedo and its relation to immortality because this is point when Socrates is finally approaching death. To begin with, Socrates believed that the soul has been in existence since our birth. The soul cannot be perceived by our senses but through the achievement of highest purity where there is absolute equality, justice, beauty, and goodness. Through Heraclitean doctrine, one can understand the existence of the soul as life changes to death and death changes to life. The body and soul are opposites and when death comes, the end of life and decomposition of the mortal body leads to separation of the soul from the body. Not being able to see it existence nor to where will it go, the soul is considered as immortal. A true philosopher just like Socrates is not afraid of dying because the immortality of the soul cleanses all impurities from our senses; thus, a philosopher’s dream where there is absolute equality, peace, good, beauty, and justice will be realized. Read More