“Therefore, it is fear and terror that make all men brave,
except the philosophers.”
As
Socrates considers his coming death, he instructs those around him to examine
the motives behind bravery. His claim is that philosophers look forward to the
separation of their body and soul because it is the body that hinders the
pursuit of further knowledge. He says that other men only face death with
bravery for fear of something worse. To him, there is a much greater goal in
death than avoiding the consequences of living. Death is transformed from an
evil into a pursuit, as a true philosopher lives as close to death as he is
able. In many ways, his thoughts resemble Christian ideology. Christians look
forward to deeper communion with God, and many face death in their earthly
pursuit of following Christ. In the same way that Socrates sought wisdom unto
the death, Christians are to pursue the will of Christ unto their own death.
There is no fear in death for those in a growing relationship with God.
I commented on Ethan and Francesca's posts
I commented on Ethan and Francesca's posts
Yes, but what happens after the philosophers die? What makes their lives worth living if nothing happens after the fact?
ReplyDeleteI think that because they weren't saved, they would not necessarily gained the wisdom they are searching for. It was a good foundation for faith in things beyond the world, yet I feel like they didn't get to experience what they sought after. Sorry about being dark.
ReplyDeleteI think that Socrates is searching for something that is just out of reach. He is pursuing something more after death, but he does not know what that missing piece is.
ReplyDelete