Socrates: A very Brief Commentary- UPDATE!

Update 16th December 2016

For reasons which remain inexplicable to me, I left out an essential paragraph in the original composition. I have remedied this amnesic error and have consequently bolstered my piece with the illuminating additional paragraph. This paragraph adds context further supporting the general thrust of my thesis. May the literary gods forgive me, for I shall not forgive myself for this grievous omission.

If you care, it is the paragraph just above the ugly fella. Arse

Socrates, together with Plato and Aristotle, represent the Magnificent Triumvirate and epitome of Ancient Greek Philosophy. Socrates left no scribblings of his own and what we know about his life, philosophy and discourse, is mainly through two of his students, Plato and Xenophon. Plato requires no introduction. Xenophon was a Greek general who successfully led 10,000 Greek troops through the length of the Persian Empire c400BC. No mean feat? Or a stroll through a degenerate, effete empire? You decide.

The Main Sources

The Socrates, as related by both men, is an inconsistent entity on important philosophical issues. Although Xenophon can be relied on with reference to the factual aspects of Socrates' life, his take on Socratic philosophy and political reaction to his teachings should not be taken too seriously. Xenophon may have been a successful general but he was no intellectual. With Plato's account we have a different problem. Plato was well versed with Socrates' philosophical outlook and debating methodology however, in his dialogues where Socrates takes central stage, we are not entirely sure whether we are listening to the original Socrates or Plato's doctrine emanating from a Socratic mouthpiece. Not many men could have invented this ‘Socrates’, but I believe Plato could have. 

A life in Brief

Socrates was born c 470 BC in Athens. When young he served in the Athenian citizen army and acquitted himself bravely on three campaigns during the Peloponnesian war with Sparta. In later life he became an avid debater and applied the dreaded dialectic to his discourse. In the main he was not interested in matters pertaining to the material, physical world. He concerned himself with ethical and moral questions. Thus Socrates enmeshed himself with human concerns: what makes men good? What is truth, justice and happiness? He questioned all existing beliefs and institutions including politics and the prevailing theology. His method was to question his subject by a line of prompts and verbal spurs in order to elicit 'new knowledge'. In this regard he considered himself a midwife- merely drawing forth and giving birth to ideas already latent and innate within the 'vessel'. This of course is not the case. By a series of well designed leading questions Socrates either imposed his point of view or encouraged the 'victim' to engage the topic from a novel direction. It is to be noted that he rarely brings together firm conclusions on the topics he chooses to debate. This is due to the subject matter in hand and shows wisdom. The ultimate questions concerning human nature do not have ultimate fixed answers, unless asked/answered by a prissy pedant with a closed mind. The debate forever remains open. In this regard he has fared better than his contemporary, Plato and near contemporary, Aristotle, in the opinion of modern folk. The speculations of Plato and Aristotle roamed and delved not only into human nature but in matters physical, cosmological and biological- in these subjects they have been subsequently shown to be entirely wrong. However, due to their authority and the uncritical reverence given by those who followed, they indirectly stifled original thought for nearly 1,500 years. What men; what a legacy! But not their fault.

Socrates, due to his philosophical methodology, garnered great respect and great hatred in equal measure amongst the Athenian citizenry. The questioning young, and old, adored him while established politicians, men of substance and respect often felt humiliated by his probing irreverent treatment of their long held cherished notions and beliefs. We have no extant written evidence attributed to the Athenian ferret community. I suspect, on the whole, it would have been positive. But if we are to be intellectually honest, we will really never know. Let us draw an opaque veil over this knotty conundrum and digress, no more.  

As to Socrates appearance: he was not moulded in the Greek Classical concept of beauty; short, squat, stocky and with an agreeable paunch. Even his friends and admirers considered him very ugly. Socrates seemed to care little about his physical appearance and made little effort to defy nature with artificial adornments.

The Athens of the late 390s BC was a politically unstable city. Athens was still reeling from its defeat in the Peloponnesian war. Those who reigned had little time and affection for the likes of Socrates. He was seen as an unsettling influence on the citizenry and especially the young and as a consequence it was considered expedient to have him indicted for impiety (399B). Socrates managed a spirited defence but was condemned nonetheless. Instead of paying a hefty fine and going into exile, Socrates remained unrepentantly defiant and was eventually condemned to death by poison. An account of his last hours, spent with friends, is given in Plato’s Phaedo. During his last hours, Socrates remains serene and continues with his philosophic speculations. Understandably, given the circumstances, Socrates ponders on what becomes of the ‘human essence’ after death. He leans to the view that an afterlife exists in which he will continue his speculations with fellow philosophers. The arguments on which he relies are not convincing to a modern mind and have a naive quality about them. To his credit, Socrates considers the alternative- gentle oblivion. A dreamless sleep which cannot be anything but good.

Who's a pretty boy, den?

The Athenian state of the period was a politically unstable, bubbling cauldron of a city. Athens was still reeling from defeat in the Peloponnesian war. Those who reigned had little time and affection for the likes of Socrates. He was seen as an unsettling influence on an unsettled citizenry, especially the young. As a consequence it was considered expedient to have him indicted for impiety (399 BC). Socrates managed a spirited defence but was condemned nonetheless. Instead of paying a hefty fine and going into exile, Socrates remained unrepentantly defiant and was eventually condemned to death by poison. An account of his last hours, spent with friends, is given in Plato’s , Phaedo . During his last hours, Socrates remains serene and continues with his philosophic speculations. Understandably, given the circumstances, Socrates ponders on what becomes of the ‘human essence’ after death. He decidedly leans to the view that an afterlife exists in which he will continue his speculations with fellow philosophers, for an eternity. The arguments on which he relies are not convincing to a modern mind and have, uncharacteristically, a naive quality about them. By the way, this 'afterlife' only appeals to the unbridled intellectual. Lesser men, crave beer and women, as well. To his credit, Socrates considers the minor alternative- gentle oblivion. A dreamless sleep which cannot be anything, but good.

Socrates, appears as a high minded aesthetic. A man seemingly divorced, as much as anyone can be, from the mundane physical world. A man of honest and towering principles. Although, in public, he confesses to know nothing, the impression we get is that: ‘he protests too much’. I suspect in private ‘he knows it all’. Perhaps I’m being a tad unfair to the 'gadfly', although he does come across as more than a little smug. Indifference in the face of death is laudable. A death he could have easily escaped. However, we would have been more impressed if he had believed oblivion the more likely scenario. In this respect he is reminiscent of the Christian undergoing martyrdom at the hand of the Roman Emperors. Surety of an afterlife inures us from tragedy, in this life, and makes us brave to face the next.....