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By: Amydell M. Beardshall Concept of Good displayed by Socrates in Apology Good is defined in Websters dictionary as having desirable or favorable qualities, or characteristics; morally excellent, better, best. (Pg. 77) All aforementioned attributes were displayed by Socrates in the last few days before his death, in Crito, (Criton. ) I will attempt to prove that goodness was displayed by him in many different ways, while he was faced with evil and an imminent demise. As well I will attempt to give my personal impressions of good, and how it affects our society. My first spontaneous impression of the meaning of good is that it should be thought of as highly moral and ethical. Good is found in many places that people never care to look. Good is found in volunteering your time to needy causes, unfortunate others, or in education.
Unfortunately, most people are too caught up in their own lives to take the time to find the good in their existence. Many people never take the time to ask themselves, what have I done for myself lately to better who I am as a person. ? Never thinking to ask this question of themselves, leads them to ask others, What have you done for me to make me a happier person? The problem with this circular reasoning is that we train ourselves to believe that others owe us favors, or owe us good times, good meals, good experiences. When in reality, if we spent time on how we can make ourselves happy, and better find the good in ourselves, we would be a much happier society.
Our society suffers from a lack of good in their everyday lives. Every day when we open up newspapers, or watch the news, we are slapped in the face by evil or wrong-doings. Hard to find today are people who live their lives for the good of themselves in hopes to better the lives of others. I find that I personally see the most good in doctors and professors or teachers, of all kinds, and social workers.
These professions tend to give to society for the goodness and hopes of a educated, healthful life for the person they are helping, treating, or teaching. Good is the person who can give of himself, without remorse or dismay of the loss of their time or energy. Most of these people, if asked, are happy with the knowledge and hope that they are doing good for others. Their happiness is derived from acts of kindness or in doing good deeds. The first significant appearance of good shows up in the opening passages of Crito.
Socrates lifelong friend Criton is watching over him as he sleeps in prison. He obviously has great sadness when he says to Socrates upon his waking I have come with news, my dear Socrates, painful news-not for you, as it appears, but for me and all your friends painful and burdensome, and I think I shall find it heavier than anyone else. (PG. 447) You can tell from this passage that Criton is feeling pain at the imminent loss of his friend. There is goodness in this type of hurt. It makes you realize how much our friends mean to us. Criton's feelings of disbelief in the lack of emotion from Socrates are understandable.
He has come to let Socrates know that his death is imminent, and Socrates appears not to be perplexed, angry or upset. Socrates feelings of good-will are perpetuated when he attempts to see the bright side of his death. He simply says if that is Gods will, so be it. (Pg. 448) Criton's emotion is very evident as he is Socrates best friend and will greatly miss his friend. Was Socrates good attitude about his demise a product of his emotional state of being? His never-ending feelings of good-will?
Or was his physical environment so bad that he determined in his own mind that there would be more solace, good, and rest for his soul after his death? Socrates seems to find the good even in his death. More good is personified when Socrates says I wish only that many could do the greatest mischief, so that they could also do the greatest good! (Pg. 449) Socrates is speaking out that the people need to break away from the norm, and accepted rules, and this will force society to grow more tolerant and diverse in their acceptance of people. As things are now, they are doing things at random. This is a wonderful concept. He has spoken, and therefore been imprisoned for it.
He feels that if others begin to speak out that they will in turn expand their minds and grow. I seem to remember being much more trustful of people as a young child, living in a small town, than my same-aged counterparts living in larger cities. But I found the same speaking constraints that Socrates did in his city. I was held to social status quos in hopes that I would not step outside the boundaries of what was socially acceptable. I find now as an adult, looking back on my childhood, I was helped by my parents to see the world through rose-colored-glasses (the good, not the bad) and I seem to remember my parents being the same way. Living in the socially accepted realm of the cities tolerances.
It could be that my small town upbringing had many good benefits for me, but I do not desire to ever have the influence of that type of social setting ever again now. When I look at larger towns where there seem to be more homeless, or jobless people, as well as higher crime rates, I ask myself, were these people robbed of good values and morals when they were bought up? or, are they lucky that they didnt have the constraints of a pre-failed life? Still, I digress, should I feel forever nieve in believing that the town I grew up in was mostly for the good of me? ? Or the worst of me? I think that Socrates saw the good in people, even at his death.
He saw glimpses of good in the future, and good in his death. If not for the worth of the cause he died for, his right to speak, but rather for the good hopes for what would be for future generations to come.
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Research essay sample on Displayed By Socrates Good Is Found People
