Socrates Was A Controversial Figure Essay - 1618 Words

Socrates, one of the greatest philosophers in history, was arrested, put in jail, and was sentenced to death. The reason for being put in jail and getting the death sentence was because some believed he went out all over Athens, corrupting their youth and creating chaos in their way of life. Although these are some big accusations at the time, some believed that Socrates did commit these crimes to the fact that some of the people of Athens, particularly did not like Socrates due to the fact that Socrates was a controversial figure in the city to which some didn’t understand him and some of the people of Athens would worry every time that Socrates would go out and question the gods, that the result would have them fearing that their gods would come down and smite all of them with their eternal wrath. Fearing the gods over a man’s intellect and questioning, Socrates was put under arrest and was allowed a trial for his defense of the claims brought upon him. During the ti me that Socrates was put in prison, Athens was going under some dramatic changes from their hegemony in the classical world in a declining matter due to them being defeated by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. With their defeat to the Spartans, Athens unknowingly forced themselves into a down spiral state where they entered a period of doubt and instability about their identity and place in the world. The result of this period made the Athens clung to their past ways, past glories, ways of wealth, and theirShow MoreRelatedThe Teachings of Plato788 Words   |  4 Pagesknown as society today. Socrates was a Greek philosopher who inspired many (still inspiring the youth today) despite the controversial ideas he presented about 2,000 years ago. Philosophies and teaching of Socrates evolved the way of thinking and points of interests during the time period in which Socrates lived. This Greek philosopher’s teachings were unlike those of the social norms during 300 BC, which plays a significant role in the importance of Socrates today. Socrates was an innovating philosopherRead MoreThe Death of Socrates785 Words   |  4 PagesThe Death of Socrates â€Å"The Death of Socrates† was painted by a French painter . His name was Jacques Louis David. The painting represents the scene of the death of Greek philosopher Socrates. He was condemned to die by drinking hemlock for the expression of his ideas against those of Athens and corrupting the minds of the youth. The painting also depicts both Plato and Crito, with the former sitting at the edge of the bed and the latter clutching the knee of Socrates. Socrates had the choiceRead MoreThe Death Of William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1660 Words   |  7 Pages David was not the only artist to be fascinated and inspired by historic suicides. Suicide is not an uncommon subject of paintings, or any of the arts for that matter. On the contrary, suicide can be glorified to a certain extent, in the way that a novel or film can romanticize the act without the brutality or consequences being addressed. Suicide can appear heroic in the face of a evil. It can appear to be a triumphant escape from a cruel world. Suicide can even look romantic when portrayed asRead MoreMachiavelli And Socrates1713 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates and Niccolà ² Machiavelli were both political philosophers who lived through corruption, violence, and political restlessness. These circumstances prompted them to develop their own solutions for their respective societies. This included the creation of a stable political system with a strong and effective leader through the examination of the faults of said societies. To Machiavelli, this leader is known as the â€Å"Prince. † He believes that the Prince should be pragmatic in his actions, andRead MoreThe Meno, Socrates And Meno1586 Words   |  7 Pages In the Meno, Socrates and Meno discuss the nature of virtue, the process of acquiring knowledge, and also the concept of the teachability of virtue. Throughout the text, Meno suggests many varying definitions for virtue, all of which Socrates is able to dismantle. The point is also raised that it may be impossible to know about something that was not previously understood, because the searcher would have no idea what to be looking for. To dispute this, Socrates makes a point that all knowledgeRead MoreEssay on Socrates vs Thrasymachus1653 Words   |  7 PagesPlato’s Republic features a disagreement between Socrates and Thrasymachus about the nature of justice. The disaccord between their views of the subject is extremely pronounced, but there are certain underlying agreements which guide the course of the debate. One way to evaluate the validity of the arguments involved is to examine whether the assumptions at the root of the argument are in accord with this common ground. By my reading of the dialogue, Socrates’ reply to the first part of Thrasymachus’ definitionRead MoreSocrates: The Dichotomy between Aristophanes and Plato’s Depictions1489 Words   |  6 Pages Socrates: The Dichotomy between Aristophanes and Plato’s Depictions Ignorance: the condition of being uninformed or uneducated; this basic definition is crucial to understanding one of the most controversial figures in ancient Athenian society: the philosopher Socrates. The man’s entire life was devoted to proving the fact that no one actually knew what they thought they did; that everyone lived in ignorance. This viewpoint earned Socrates many enemies, so many that even a renowned playwrightRead More Socrates versus Nelson Mandela Essay1723 Words   |  7 Pages As an Athenian philosopher, Socrates spent his life in constant pursuit of insight. He loved engaging in conversations that helped him derive philosophical views on a number of different issues. The birth of ideas through critical reasoning can be credited back to his method of teaching, which is now known as the Socratic Method. Although widely respected today, many of his teachings were found controversial in Athenian times. Socrates was placed on trial and put to death soon after becauseRead MoreThe Modern Greek Tragedy Antigone1602 Words   |  7 Pagesor controversial† (Google Search). Observing history, it can be noted that a large portion of the most influential people were the most outspoken; it can be noted that these figures were courageous and bold. Historical figures from all different fields held a sense of outspokenness in presenting themselves because their ideas defied prevalent ideas and societal norms of their time. People who took a stand in their time b ecame some of the most influential and most prominent historical figures thatRead MoreEssay on History Quiz - Western Civilization to Middle Ages1580 Words   |  7 PagesAlsacian | | Ionic | | Corinthian | | Doric | Question 2 of 60 In 490 B.C.E. the Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of | Plataea. | | Miltiades. | | Marathon. | | Miletus. | Question 3 of 60 Which of the following was NOT true of the 490 B.C.E. Athenian victory over the Persians? | It convinced the Greeks of their cultural superiority over barbarians. | | It ended Persian hopes of successfully invading Greece. | | It established the superiority of the