Socrates

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the dialogues of Aristophanes' "Clouds", "The Apology" and "The Republic", demonstrate how one can get closer to Socrates' real essence. It looks at how Socrates lived and died according to his values and moral beliefs and even though he knew he had been unjustly accused and convicted, he was willing to die because the state court was the law and the law of the land must be upheld. It examines how his life had been spent teaching that all men were innately good and must continue to be good even when the forces of evil were against them. It shows how Socrates was the first philosopher to make a clear distinction between body and soul and how his examination of such moral ideas as piety and courage represent knowledge of moral ideas that are necessary to act morally.

From the Paper:

"In Aristophanes' Clouds, one of Socrates students introduces Strepsiades to Socrates' method of learning which involved the curriculum, and research interests. After praising Socrates' ingenuity, however, the student unexpectedly announces that Socrates was recently deprived of a great thought by a gecko. This puzzles Strepsiades and she begins to ask questions concerning the gecko. The student explains that a gecko dropped its bodily waste onto Socrates from the eaves of the school while Socrates was gazing upward, open-mouthed, and absorbed in astronomical observations. The story leads one to believe that Socrates is questioning knowledge and is led to the gecko. While deep in thought, Socrates has his mouth open in anticipation of discovery and thus, the gecko delivers falling excrement into his mouth. "

More papers on Socrates:

• Term Paper # 135758 : "The Guilt of Socrates"
• Essay # 86562 : "Plato and Socrates"
• Essay # 6193 : "Socrates and the Concept of Justice"
• Analytical Essay # 86480 : "Socrates and Plato's 'The Apology'"

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