...Chapter 1 Purpose Driven life “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov It is in one’s best interest to discover the purpose for his existence. He who made man, never made him to be a creature void of purpose. Whatever was, had a function, whatever is has a function and whatever will be will have function. When one ventures into creation of any machinery, the venture is such that the machine must achieve certain ends. So them that make automobiles have transportation of humans and goods; they that make houses have shelter as the end, and the list continues likewise. This is the same even for trades; there exists a purpose for each trade that exists. They that teach have imparting of knowledge and skills as the end; they that practice law seek justice as the end, and those that practice medicine, good health as the end; and the list continues in like manner. In the universe, the cycle of life shows dependency on one another, hence, each species of life serve the other in death or in life alike. With this back ground, it becomes impossible that man can be without a purpose. He is definitely created to accomplish a certain good. As an individual, there exists a purpose for which he was created. In like manner, there exists a corporate end for which man must aim. This to a greater extent must be searched for by those who aspire for the greater calling of politics. It is...
Words: 1465 - Pages: 6
...In the Phaedo Socrates is waiting in jail for the poison that will fulfil his death sentence. On the day of his execution he has been talking with his friends about his expectations and their fears about his death. Socrates tries to prove that the soul is immortal to his friends in order for them to see that he is content and not unhappy about his death. Nevertheless, the Phaedo fails at proving the immortality of the soul because Socrates assumes that the soul exist and doesn’t clearly define what a soul is. So the arguments that follow like the philosophy is the practice for death, the soul is not likely to be scattered fail, and the proof that opposites come from opposites fail. The arguments work only if the soul exists, and since the soul is only assumed the arguments are unsuccessful at proving the souls immortality. One of the arguments that Socrates uses to prove the immortality of the soul is that philosophy is the practice for death. There are three premises that are implied in order for the argument to succeed. One is that the soul exists, the second is that there is such a thing as death, and the third is that death is the separation of the soul from the body. Yet the argument is circular and does not work because Socrates did not prove what he had assumed. According to Socrates the philosopher...
Words: 1175 - Pages: 5
...Socrates Worldview Intro Socrates was a raggedy old man that spent his time searching and looking for all of the answers to the world. The readings we started on took us to Socrates in his last days and arguing with friends if he should escape or not. We will get to look at though the worldview analysis Socrates findings of his years searching and his personal view portrayed by ones around him. Condition Bodily Attachment Socrates believes the human problem is inside us ourselves. We are all souls inhibiting bodies and Socrates states that the body is our problem. “So long as we keep to the body and our soul is contaminated with this imperfection, there is no chance of our ever attaining satisfactorily to our object, which we assert to be Truth.” (Phaedo 66b) He talks about how the body is in desire of riches, cloths, and ornaments then argues if the soul needs all those things. The body is distracting us from the truth. Socrates believes that death is the solution to all. He states, “I fancy that this (death) will help us to find out the answer to our problem. (Phaedo 64d) I agree with Socrates because I believe we have a soul as well and it continues after death. The body needs the soul as much as the soul needs the body though and because no one is positive about death and us continuing we do our part to keep the body alive as well. Misology Socrates also states that the human condition is caused by bad experiences that ruin everyone’s look on life....
Words: 1976 - Pages: 8
...with his Sophist Socrates. Socrates was a Greek philosopher and he was known to preach endlessly about his ideas and theories to anyone that would listen. Plato’s most renowned work comes from his Five Dialogues. In two of Plato’s dialogues, Meno and Phaedo, Socrates is the protagonist and Plato uses his character to portray his philosophical views of life and how one can go about acquiring knowledge. The Meno consists of a discussion between Socrates and his companion, Meno, in which Meno is trying to inquire information on whether “virtue can be taught? Or is it not teachable but the result of practice, or is it neither of these, but men possess it by nature or in some other way” (70a). In the beginning of the dialogue, Socrates asks Meno to define what virtue is and after numerous attempts, Socrates comes to realize that he himself is unclear on whether or not virtue can be taught so he suggests that they can seek out the answer together. Meno is puzzled because he doesn’t know how the two of them will search and acquire knowledge on virtue if they are both unfamiliar with the subject. Socrates’ responds with a debate he once heard from some priests and priestesses about how “the human soul is immortal; at times it comes to an end, which they call dying; at times it is reborn, but it is never destroyed, and one must therefore live one's life as piously as possible" (81b). Socrates informs Meno that knowledge is derived from the immortality of the human soul, not via learning...
Words: 881 - Pages: 4
...The third part of the soul, contrary to the other two parts (the calculation and the appetitive part of the souls), Socrates carries out the desires that reason orders. Socrates, then, attempts to show that spirit cannot be the object of reason because it sometimes acts when reason is non-apparent. For example, he says “for that much one can see in children, that they are from their very birth chock-full of rage and high spirit, but as for reason, some of them… never participate in it...” – he states that children have desires of the third part without the reasoning part of the soul (AGP, 477, 441A,B). Because of his argument and example, Socrates shows that the third part is not the same as the rational part of the soul; the third part of...
Words: 657 - Pages: 3
...philosophers of all time, Socrates, has been sentenced to death for his “corrupt” ways. Socrates has been condemned to commit suicide by drinking hemlock. Before the great philosopher takes his last drink, Socrates explains his theories on Dualism, immortality, forms, and opposites. He makes his first argument on opposites; everything comes to be from out of its opposite. Life and death are in a perpetual cycle such that death cannot be a permanent end. The soul is what animates us: we are alive because we have a soul. That concept suggests that the soul is connected to life. Since the form of life does not in any way include its opposite; death, the soul cannot in any way be overcome by death. Socrates concluded that the soul must be immortal. Socrates argues his theory of recollection by stating that learning is essentially an act of recollecting things we knew before we were born but then forgot. He is basically saying that our souls have existed in a previous life or prior to birth. I feel that he is saying that in a way our souls are recycled. I feel that if you already have your instincts before your birth, then you already acquired them from a previous form. Socrates continues by saying that the soul’s life extends beyond the body and is “immortal.” Socrates goes on to say that “death” occurs when the soul and the body “detach” themselves; so the body is dead but the soul will keep on living. A soul that is not properly detached from the body will become a ghost that...
Words: 442 - Pages: 2
...PHI 150 3/11/14 Socrates Paper Socrates is believed to be one of the greatest philosophers of all time and he is credited as being the founder of western philosophy. This paper will explain some of his views to the most fundamental questions of today’s age. These questions will include topics about morality, the human condition, solution, and death. After Socrates’ views on these topics are explained, a critique will be done on his answers. I will start out by explaining exactly who Socrates is, and the time that he lived in. To start out, we will first examine Socrates’ view on morality. There are many questions that could be asked about the topic of morality. Questions like, what are the central moral principles, who is the ideal person, how do you determine right versus wrong. In Socrates’ eyes, I believe that the question of morality comes down to one main question, is it just or unjust? When Socrates was imprisoned facing his death, one of his close friends, Crito, came to him and presented him with an opportunity to escape and he replies to the proposal by saying, “Then in light of this admission we must consider whether or not it is just for me to try and get away without being released by the Athenians. If it turns out to be just, we must make an attempt; if not, we must drop it.” (Crito 48c). Crito then continues to give him reasons why they must escape including how Socrates is endangering the reputation of his friends, how he was put into jail unjustly...
Words: 1729 - Pages: 7
...and to die, but how do you know that the soul is a soul that already existed? How do you know that the soul isn't obliterated when you die and that a new soul is born with a new body? In Phaedo Plato uses dialogue to explore all these ideas,which are formed through reasoning. All that he thinks is not told explicitly but discovered by questioning and use of the intellect. In the exact way that he describes, the question is not asked, what do you see, its always what do you think. The processes of thinking things through leads you to the arguments he presents for the immortality of the soul. Socrates never tells me what to think he only presents ideas and allows the conversation for my own thinking to develop. The process of reading this is in line with the way of life for a philosopher who is seeking truth. Even in his last moments, Socrates is taking time to discuss these ideas with his colleagues. If this is what he is doing before he dies, this is another way he shows me that this is the proper way to live. The body can’t exist without soul but the soul can exist without the soul. The body needs its opposite since it is mortal. But the soul being immortal does not need body to reach beyond itself. This is why Socrates views death in a positive light. He seeks lives in the soul which is done through understanding and the intellect and this is the life of a philosopher. opposites. In the generation of the idea of the opposites you need the idea of "after having been" for...
Words: 1017 - Pages: 5
...Reasons for Socrates to Resist the Death Penalty: Name: Course: Date: Introduction: Socrates was a well renowned Athenian philosopher many years before his trial. He is actually considered a great founder in western philosophy. He was a very distinctive and typical individual with extraordinary teachings. It is believed that his teachings were very different from those of other philosophers in Greece since his ideas differed with the rightful societal beliefs. This resulted to hatred from the people. According to him, a useless life is one that is not examined. He put a lot of emphasis on the obedience of the state likening it to the obedience a son would have for his father. He was common for taking children through lectures of coming up with arguments to justify the reason for beating his father. Socrates was later accused of corrupting youth groups and godlessness. He was then convicted to death by taking poison which he obeyed as a way of following his teaching on obedience to the law. If Confucius would have believed in a life after death, he would probably have agreed with Socrates to have the law obeyed and kill himself. Socrates, in his day of execution explains that soul is the main form of an individual. Soul does not die and is eternal and does not change. Just the same way it brings life, so must it not die despite the death of the body. Soul is therefore termed as immortal. He feels that dying does not destroy who he really is since in real sense, he will not be dead...
Words: 1962 - Pages: 8
...Exam 1 6/18/14 Socrates’ Courageousness Socrates should not be classified as a Sophist for many reasons. He did not take money from those whom he spoke to; sophists did not care if their conclusions were true, yet Socrates used his ways of dialectic to try to find the absolute truths and he tries to proof to people that the immortal soul exists that is why he does not fear death. Socrates tries to let people know that there is life after death by proving himself right; he is not afraid of death. For instance, “Socrates claims that the death is nothing more than the separation of the soul from the body and although some group of people denies it, the soul is immortal considering the cycle of life and death, the theory of recollection and the affinity argument” (Makaleler). Makaleler tells the audience that Socrates is so certain that the soul is immortal. He also says death is just the soul leaving the body, yet many people don’t believe what he says. People denies Socrates’ way of thinking is mainly because they are scared of changes, they fear the unknown of what exactly will happen to them when the soul leaves the body. This is a good example of why Socrates is not a sophist because if he was a sophist he would have collected money then tell people what they want to hear, as this quotes states people do not believe in him. Socrates is not trying to please anyone to get money, he is just stating what the divine voice had told him. Again, “The soul can be considered...
Words: 794 - Pages: 4
...human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions. Socrates discusses this many times in his teachings, specifically in the readings, Euthyphro, the Apology, the Crito and the Phaedo. Socrates’ main question was “What is the good life?” and his pursuit was to find out how to live this “good life”. Socrates’ pursuit of the “good life” helped him to identify knowledge with virtue. He equated knowledge with good or virtue and ignorance with bad or evil. Since no one would knowingly harm themselves, if harm came to a person, then that person must have acted in ignorance. This led him to the thought that if knowledge could be learned, so could virtue. This meant that virtue could be taught, so Socrates had conversations with anyone who boasted about being an expert of a certain subject. This would lead him to gain more knowledge (virtue), which in turn would help him in his goal to lead and teach “the good life”. In the Euthyphro, Socrates starts chatting with a man who is in court to prosecute his father for murder. This man, Euthyphro, claims to be an expert on piety (an expert of religious knowledge), and since Socrates is being prosecuted for impiety, he thinks he will learn how to escape prosecution from this expert. Socrates asks Euthyphro for a universal definition of piety, both for his own personal gain (for his defense against the charge of impiety) and also for the...
Words: 2643 - Pages: 11
...ancient philosophers present differing views on how a life should be lived. Both Socrates and Confucius prescribe a way to live the best life, but their reasons for doing so vary. Socratic philosophy is based on the pursuit of wisdom leading to the separation of the soul from the body. Confucian philosophy describes the path to become an exemplary person, which draw on the lessons of history and community. In comparing their beliefs, we can learn life lessons that are of benefit in the here and now and others that are more esoteric. In the Socratic philosophy of soul and body separation, Socrates maintains that the separation of the soul and body is the end goal of a philosopher’s life. He goes so far as to say that a philosopher ought to welcome death, as it is the culmination of one’s life. He is then asked why suicide is not an option, if a philosopher welcomes death. Socrates rebuts by saying that we are the possessions of our creators, “…would you not be angry if one of your possessions killed itself when you had not given any sign that you wished it to die.” (P. 99) Socrates continues to expand his philosophy by supporting why a philosopher would welcome death. He states that in death, “…I should go first to other wise and good gods, and then to the men who have died and are better than men are here. Be assured, that as it is, I expect to join the company of good men.” (P. 100) Socrates argues that a philosopher who has devoted his life to the search for pure wisdom...
Words: 1736 - Pages: 7
...09/10/2017 Socrates presents an argument known as the Argument from Recollection, which attempts to prove one’s soul existed prior to his or her birth. To better explain this argument, a definition will need to be established. Socrates defines in his monologue, the definition of Recollection, “So all human beings are good in the same way, for they become good by acquiring the same qualities. It seems so. And they would not be good in the same way if they did not have the same virtue. They certainly would not be. Since then the virtue of all is the same, try to tell me and to remember what Gorgias, and you with him, said that that same thing is.” To better explain, the argument is sectioned into three parts. The first part stating simply that one acquires knowledge by remembering it through the soul...
Words: 648 - Pages: 3
...Socrates Paper The goal of this paper is to discern and construct the world views of Socrates through the various readings, lectures and videos that we have seen in class. Some of these sources include: Socrates by G. Rudebusch; excerpts from The Last Days of Socrates by Plato; and The Allegory of a Cave. Of the nine world views covered in class, I will delve into my interpretation of four of them as seen through the various sources that we have been exposed to in class. These four world views will include Death, Condition, Solution and Morality. Finally, I will use my understanding of the world *views assessment to critique Socrates’ view of morality. Death The first and most obvious worldview that I wanted to cover is Socrates’ view of death. That is, what really happens to us when we die? This was such an evident topic to me because throughout a majority of our readings, Socrates was being faced with death, so what better time to discuss one’s thoughts for what is to come in the afterlife than when they are staring death in the face. Socrates first brings to light his view of death in the Apology when he states, “Death is one of two things. Either it is annihilation, and the dead have no consciousness of anything; or, as we are told, it is really a change: a migration of the soul from this place to another.” (Apology 40c). At this point, Socrates does not give any definitive answer as to whether death is annihilation or the migration of the soul; rather, he argues that...
Words: 1543 - Pages: 7
...Simmias analogy to Socrates in Phaedo. Socrates presents his third argument for the immortality of the soul, called Affinity Argument, where he shows that the soul most resembles that which is invisible and divine, and the body resembles that which is visible and mortal. From this, it is concluded that while the body may be seen to exist after death in the form of a corpse, as the body is mortal and the soul is divine, the soul must outlast the body. Simmias draws an extended comparison between a human being and a musical instrument, the lyre. In Simmias analogy he says, the body is visible, composite and mortal. A harp is visible composite and mortal. When the harp is destroyed, the tune which is ethereal, invisible and divine is also destroyed. The soul is like a tune it is ethereal, invisible and divine. If the body is destroyed the soul cannot survive. The argument I believe Simmias is making to Socrates is that nothing can exist prior to the things which it was created from. Simmias argument talks about the body being a lyre and the soul being the body and the harmony being the soul. With this in mind he explains that if the lyre rots then the harmony must also change. In the same way if the body is ravaged by disease then the soul must also be destroyed. The question I believe Simmias is attempting to ask is how can the soul exist before the body? Simmias argument is that the soul is a harmony dependent on the body. If the body is destroyed, the soul is also destroyed....
Words: 463 - Pages: 2
