Socrates dies

Upcoming Class Schedule

  • Tuesday 10/7:

    • First Exam

    • Requirements: Bring 8.5" by 11" bubble sheet and pencil.

    • Study guide available on Canvas

  • Thursday 10/9:

    • No class (out of town guest lecture)

  • Tuesday 10/14:

    • Fall Break

  • Thursday:

    • Topic: Logic

  • Assignment:

    • Available on Canvas

Philosophical Discussion: Socrates' Death

  • Title: Socrates Dies

Socratic Dialogue: Crito

  • Context: Socrates' response to Crito regarding friendship and justice.

  • Key Themes:

    • Concern about public perception:

    • Crito expresses fear of being deemed a bad friend.

    • Socrates counters this with the Physical Trainer Analogy (47b).

    • Importance of perspective:

    • Socrates emphasizes the need to prioritize the views of those who truly understand justice, rather than the majority (48a).

    • Definition of a good life:

    • Socrates states, "The most important thing is not life but the good life… and the good life, the beautiful life, and the just life are the same" (48b).

    • Discussion of familial obligations:

    • Crito accuses Socrates of betraying his sons.

    • Socrates responds with a critique of societal values: "As for the questions you raise about money, reputation, the upbringing of children Crito, these considerations in truth belong to those people who easily put men to death" (48c).

Socrates’ Argument for Staying in Prison

  • Location: From passage 49b to end.

  • Core Principles:

    • One must never do wrong, even in response to being wronged.

    • It is wrong to break a just agreement.

    • Socrates posits that the agreement between himself and The Laws of Athens is just.

    • Leaving Athens would be considered breaking that just agreement.

    • Conclusion: Socrates should remain in prison and accept execution.

Clarifying Socrates' Position

  • Clarification of Misconceptions:

    • Socrates is not asserting that it is always wrong to break the law irrespective of location.

    • Examination of premises 2 and 3 indicates his belief allows for the possibility of change if persuaded with regard to justice (51e); Socrates could have attempted to persuade others as to the nature of justice (51c, 52a).

Potential Objections to Socrates’ Argument

  • Objection to Premise 3:

    • Socrates misunderstood; he did not break any laws.

    • Query regarding legal guarantees: Do the laws ensure only the guilty face conviction?

  • Objection to Premise 2:

    • Socrates presents his case. Is there room for exceptions to his argument?

Socrates’ Execution

  • Means of Execution:

    • Poison Hemlock used for execution.

  • Last Words:

    • Socrates' final spoken words and their significance.

  • Philosophical Consideration of Pharmakon:

    • The term "pharmakon" signifies drug, medicine, or poison.

    • Examination of the duality of such substances in life and death contexts.