Values of Philosophy
As I looked out the 5th floor window of my dorm building just before the strike of 7, car headlights danced in the darkness and the white snow sheltered the grass like a chilled security blanket. The dark sky remained suspended above as the world lay beneath it, crawling with uncertainty and searching for the few things certain. This scene, this world, which lay outside my dorm, which lay outside of me, is filled with questions, some with answers and some not. Philosophy is an attempt to seek out answers to these questions and better understand the way things work, move, think, and simply are. Etymologically, (1) Philosophy simply means “love and pursuit of wisdom” meaning that philosophy is a path through which humans can learn and acquire knowledge.
The dialogue, “The Apology” by Plato is an account of the great philosopher, Socrates, being on trial for his life. Socrates’ accusers claim that, “He busies himself studying things in the sky and below the earth; he makes the worse into the stronger argument, and he teaches these same things to others.” (2) In an attempt to defend him, Socrates uses his crafty speaking skills to try and persuade the jury and to bring to light some of the values of philosophy.
The mark of a philosopher is their curiosity. Socrates says, “I shall never fear or avoid things in which I do not know, whether they may be good rather than things that I know to be bad.” (3) Socrates is driven by his curiosity when he gets word that the Oracle at Delphi says that there is no one wiser than He (4). After hearing this controversial statement, Socrates seeks out the ones who are known to be the wisest men of Athens, a trademark of a philosopher. A philosopher takes interest in the unknown and through investigation, attempts to convert the unknown into useable and feasible knowledge. Without philosophy, great resources would go unused due to a lack of intellect and questioning. When we question, we unearth mysteries which leads to progress, and thus provides more framework for us to build off of.
Socrates claims that the city of Athens needs, not only him, but also philosophy. He describes the city as “a great and noble horse which was somewhat sluggish because of its size and needed to be stirred up by a kind of gadfly.” He is referring to his philosophical teachings as the gadfly which “never cease to rouse each and every one” of the city of Athens (5). The world needs philosophy. If we did not ponder the events of our daily lives we would fall into a kind of slumber; a slumber where everything would be boring and taken how it is, instead of questioning what it could be. Socrates refers to Athens as being in the same type of slumber, which can only be awakened by philosophy.
Sometimes life and death is examined through the likes of philosophy. The “Apology” thoroughly touches on the topic due to Socrates’ argument. He compares death to a pursuer, “It is not difficult to avoid death, gentlemen; it is much more difficult to avoid wickedness, for it runs faster than death. Slow and elderly as I am, I have been caught by the slower pursuer, whereas my accusers…have been caught by the quicker, wickedness.” (6). Socrates does not see death as something to be fearful of, at least this is how he conducts himself in front of the jury. One of the more powerful messages he conveys lies at the end of the dialogue, “Now the hour to part has come. I go to die, you go to live. Which of us goes to the better lot is known to no one, except the god.” (7) We have now seen philosophy being used as a tool to create meaning in life and also a means in which to analyze death. Socrates has been sentenced to death and now we enter “Crito”, the sequential dialogue to “Apology”.
Plato’s dialogue “Crito” shows how philosophy can be used to analyze what is right and wrong or what is just and unjust. These issues arise when Socrates’ friend, Crito, organizes a plan and tries to convince Socrates to escape the confinement of the prison in which he is held, and the city which has condemned him. While Socrates refuses Crito’s proposal, Crito questions his morality, “I not think that what you are doing is just, to give up your life when you can save it, and to hasten your fate as your enemies would hasten it, and indeed have hastened it in their wish to destroy you.” Socrates follows by saying, “We must…examine whether we should act in this way or not, as not only now but at all times I am the kind of man who listens to nothing within me but the argument that on reflection seems best to me.” (8) Here, Socrates uses philosophy to deduce a situation and tries to come to a conclusion about the correct way in which to conduct himself. Using this, Socrates argues his point in a fashionable manner to persuade Crito. Philosophy is not only the pondering of questions, but it is also important for the philosopher to argue his/her conclusions in a way in which people can understand, connect, and believe.
Going further, a pillar in today’s law enforcement structure came from Socrates and his philosophical teachings, “Doing people harm is no different from wrongdoing…One should never do wrong in return, nor do any man harm, no matter what he may have done to you.” (9) Without this concept the world of today would turn to chaos. Socrates believes that wrongdoing causes harm on both sides; the one doing the wrong becomes corrupt, and the one being wronged suffers a loss and also loses moral value. (10) Even though Crito provides a strong argument, Socrates cannot turn his back on his views, just as any righteous philosopher wouldn’t. Acting just in the world of philosophy gains a sense of respect, partly because it is the right thing to do, but mostly because the framework of philosophy is based around that which is morally correct. With his knowledge of philosophy, Socrates was able to provide a strong argument which backed what he strongly believed. Presenting both sides of the argument facilitates a key role in the situation. Socrates not only expresses his own view about what is right and the positive influences that righteous actions bring, but he also provides the repercussions of the unjust actions, “If, as we were planning to run away from here…Do you not by this action you are attempting intend to destroy us, the laws, and indeed the whole city, as far as you are concerned?” (11) By presenting both sides, Socrates can come to a better solution in his actions. Philosophy provides a deeper way of thinking into complicated matters, which, in some cases, are thought of too simply and important aspects are often overlooked. This costly blunder can lead to poor and unjust decisions, rather than being beneficial to the community. Philosophy decreases the occurrence of these blunders and promotes a civilized, peaceful way of living and learning.
(1) “Philosophy” definition by Dictionary.com
(2) Plato, “Apology” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp. 24
(3) Plato, “Apology” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp. 33-34
(4) Plato, “Apology” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 26
(5) Plato, “Apology” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 35
(6) Plato, “Apology” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 42
(7) Plato, “Apology” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 44
(8) Plato, “Crito” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 48
(9) Plato, “Crito” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 52
(10) Plato, “Crito” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 55
(11) Plato, “Crito” in Plato’s Five Dialogues, translated by Grube, G.M. A
Indianapolis/Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company; 2002, pp 53
