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Plato and the Apology Philosophy Essay

Pages:6 (1790 words)

Sources:3

Subject:People

Topic:Plato

Document Type:Essay

Document:#71652917


A philosopher makes "logoi," discusses, and cross examines about virtue, is short of wisdom, and is aware of it. However, in as much as one is a philosopher, one desires wisdom and searches for it. In historical Greek, this notion is virtually a tautology, prompting Socrates to hold that the wise no longer philosophize. Socrates believes that philosophy is gathering knowledge; however, going by valid evidence, philosophy is the process of acquiring knowledge (Reeve 899).

Socrates is viewed as inventing another mission for philosophy because of the manner in which he practiced it. He thinks that he is acting in line with divine wishes. His reiteration that he is acting under divine orders qualifies him as a prophet. Divine orders are not philosophical knowledge to be debated and modified. It calls for unquestionable loyalty and demand direct honor to command. At this point, if Socrates is not a prophet then he is trying to map a new mission for philosophy-that of receiving divine instructions for unquestionable respect (Fagan and John 1050).

Socrates speech on the oracle story lacked form and basis (Plato 569). What then is the reason for his defense speech? As earlier indicated, the speech was designed for a scathing joke. In addition, it was designed to be transparent and genuine. However, this personal narration of Socrates view toward the state forms the argument of this paper. His speech has formed crucial evidence to suggest that Socrates was trying to invent a new mission for philosophy.

Works cited

Fagan, Patricia and Edward John. Reexamining Socrates in the Apology. Evanston:

Northwestern university press, 2009.

Plato. The apology. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2000.

Reeve, C. Socrates…


Sample Source(s) Used

Works cited

Fagan, Patricia and Edward John. Reexamining Socrates in the Apology. Evanston:

Northwestern university press, 2009.

Plato. The apology. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2000.

Reeve, C. Socrates in the apology: an essay on plato's apology of socrates. S.I.: Hacket

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