"I am afraid that other people do not realize that the one aim of those who practice philosophy in the proper manners to practice for dying and death."
It greatly surprised me when Socrates made this claim. It really does make me look at the many different aspects of which philosophy addresses. In this case, it seems to lend itself to a belief of greater things to come after life ends on earth. Socrates' outlook on his situation is such a good reminder of how we don't need to fear death. We have the promise of living in Heaven one day. When questioned about how he could be okay with his situation, he calls out people who spend their life looking for wisdom, yet fear when wisdom is found through death. We won't know certain things until we are apart from sin and all the things of this world that keep us tethered to the physical realm.
P.S. I commented on hannah's and Francesca's posts
This really stuck out to me as well! I was immediately drawn to how little he feared death, and the stories of many Christian martyrs that bravely faced death came to mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad thing, really. You taught of being the seeker of knowledge and knowledgeable in all things, through any means you please to use. Yet when you can only learn something through death, you fear such methods. An understandable fear, to be sure, but still sad.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read this I too was stunned at how passively Socrates faced his own impending death. Yet I always had an overwhelming sense of sadness as well. Yes he's prepared to die and is confident that good things await him but there is that still small voice in him that is sad and frightened for what is about to come.
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