(Pericles Funeral Oration, Plato's Apology) ancient conceptions of liberty

What are the characteristics of Athens that make it great?

the Athenians and the city are generous, courageous, cosmopolitan (open borders/worldly), attentive to politics, outward looking

Are these characteristics common to all democracies? Should they be?

no (US is not attentive to politics and atm taking an anti-cosmopolitan streak)

yeah probably

what was the setting of pericles funeral oration?

it was given by thucydides after the first few battles of the Peloponnesian war

what was the orations goal/pericles’ assertions?

to party the self understanding of the athenians

athens is not special just bc its a democracy, but also because it is a special type of democracy

peoples heroism is related to the status of the country and the cause they are defending

what is the atmosphere of athens?

• built by generations into an empire (they are the greta britain of their time)

• self sufficient during wartime and peacetime

• the laws and administration is in the hands of the majority

• balances merit with equality

• poverty/birth class is not attached to ones political participation

• be not suspicious of one another

• lots of leisures, beauty, elegance, and military + economic prowess

  • did not prioritize military

• very welcoming and worldly, gave citizenship to anyone who moved there and brough a trade/business with them

how does the oration relate to the Peloponnesian war?

pericles is saying that the deceased gave up their possibility of wealth, of a future, so here you go survivors, a roadmap to live in a democracy. do not pity the survivors

what are the charges against socrates?

1. makes the weaker argument stronger (makes people believe lies)

2. corrupts the youth (makes them lose faith in the society, not believe in gods, and fall to moral relativism)

3. does not believe in the gods

how does Socrates refute each charge?

1. claims A) he is not lying and B) is not speaking well, simply speaking the truth

2. claims A) he is not making the youth follow him around and listen, they do that on their own

3. claims he cannot believe in no gods but also be trying to create/spread the worship of new gods

why does socrates think himself valuable to the city?

because he pushes individuals to become morally autonomous, which will eventually transform the city

why do athenians view socrates as a threat to the city?

they believe he is pushing the youth to moral relativism (there is no real moral code, so anything can be justified) which would cause them to abandon the athenian ways and lead to the downfall of the city as it is structured now

what are the proposed punishments?

athens- exile or execution

socrates- free meals from the state for life

why does socrates reject exile?

he claims it would be worse than death because if he were exiled he would not be able to practice philosophy

what does socrates think is good citizenship?

being morally autonomous and having a set system of beliefs, whatever it may be

how does socrates definition of good citizenship show the subversive nature of philosophy?

being a good citizen means you can have any moral code you want, even if it goes against the laws/codes of the city, disrupting that flow

what is human wisdom?

socrates’ goal of philosophy, knowing what you dont know

what is socrates’ socratic method?

going up to people, asking them thoughtful, subjective, moral questions, and pushing and pushing them to think and think about the answers to make them realize what they do not know, with the intention of pushing them to then think about it enough that they come up with an answer they truly believe and support (gadfly analogy)