A
section of Apology that I feel is very important, but that we did not discuss
very much in class, is Socrates' view on death and what it will be. He says that death will be either one or two
things. First, it could be an
annihilation where the dead person has no consciousness of anything. This would be like a deep, dreamless sleep
which to the dead person would seem only like one, peaceful night. This is a death that people should welcome
and even enjoy because there is no pain or suffering. There is just the end.
The
other form of death is a removal from this world to a different one, which is a
widely excepted belief during this time.
Here, Socrates says that he will receive true judgment in those courts
and he is confident that he will receive a very good judgment completely
different from the one he has received from earth. Socrates says that here he could continue in
philosophy and question people just like he did on earth, except that he could
talk to the heroes and great people, and would never be condemned for it. In the end Socrates says to the jurors
"fix your minds on this one belief, which is certain-that nothing can harm
a good man either in life or after death, and his fortunes are not a matter of
indifference to the gods."
Socrates'
dialogue on death sort of makes a little jab at is condemners who he says in
between the lines has judged him falsely.
Depending on how you read it, it could also be implied that the accusers
will be harshly judged in the second form of death, and that they may not get
to thrive as pleasantly as Socrates and other great people like him would. I love that Socrates is willing to say
everything as it is, even if it may offend those who have his life in their
hands. This second view of death is what
heaven would be like to Socrates, and even is slightly similar to our view of
heaven (rejoicing and communing with each other), and I love it!
I commented on Gary Hamner's "Crito and Public
Opinion"
-Susan Berner
No comments:
Post a Comment