Origin
This question focuses on why there is something rather than nothing. Socrates uses the theory of recollection as evidence to prove his theory of creation. This theory of creation introduces that our souls have an existence before this earthly life. Socrates believes that, “…the living have come from the dead no less than the dead from the living” (72a Phaedo). He then takes the previous statement and concludes, “…that if this was so, it was a sufficient proof that the souls of the dead must exist in some place from which they are reborn” (72a Phaedo). Socrates believes that souls are in preexistence and that each individual receives theirs shortly after birth.
Condition
The question of condition focuses on what is wrong with humanity. Information from the readings reveals that ignorance is the basic problem and that people are ignorant of their own ignorance. In the apology, Socrates suggests “that the difficulty is not so much to escape death; the real difficulty is to escape from wickedness…” (39a Apology). In other words, humans have a natural propensity towards evil or injustice and Socrates points it out. Socrates goes on by saying how viciousness will hit a person quicker than death. He describes himself, an old man, to be hit by the slower of the two and the younger accusers to be hit with the faster. Socrates later states in the Phaedo, “So long as we keep to the body and our soul is contaminated with this imperfection, there is no chance of our ever attaining satisfactorily to our object, which we assert to be Truth” (66b Phaedo). This is a condition of bodily detachment between our body and our soul. Socrates believes that when the soul is not pure, we will not be able to reach the truth. The soul may not be pure because of the body. Socrates claims that the body fills us with desires, fears, and loves. These distract and interrupt us from getting to the truth. The body is also to blame for our need to have wealth. This is because we our slaves to our bodies.
Solution
In the readings, Socrates uses education as a solution to ignorance. He states that “…no soul which has not practiced philosophy, and is not absolutely pure when it leaves the body, may attain to the divine nature; that is only for the lover of learning” (82b-c Phaedo). If we educate, we may realize our ignorance and perhaps this could lead to a soul that is uncontaminated and pure. By favoring our soul over our body, we are practicing philosophy. This can be related to an example of a cardboard box. We are not interested in the box itself; we are interested in what the box contains. In this case, the cardboard box represents our body, and the potential contents in the box are our soul. Socrates also offers a solution to bodily detachment. In the Phaedo, Socrates says, “It seems that so long as we are alive, we shall keep as close as possible to knowledge if we avoid as much as we can all contact and association with the body, except when they are absolutely necessary; and instead of allowing ourselves to become infected with its nature, purify ourselves from God himself gives us deliverance” (67a Phaedo). By avoiding the contaminants of the body, we can gain direct knowledge of all that is pure and uncontaminated, of truth.
Purpose
The question of purpose focuses on why people are here. From the readings, we are here to pursue a virtuous life. Socrates views are follow laws and have obedience to higher powers. •In Crito, he states, “…you must do whatever your city and your country commands, or else persuade it that justice is on your side; but violence against mother or father is an unholy act, and it is a far greater sin against your country”(51b-c Crito). His strong following of the laws was evident; however it is ironic that he was sentenced to death for breaking a law. His answer to this is that he serves his leaders, but he claims that he owes a greater obedience to God. •Throughout the readings, Socrates made it clear that God assigns him to certain tasks given in oracles and dreams. He gives an example of a task by referring to a horse and a fly. He claims that God assigned him to the city, or horse, and he is a fly attached to the city, performing his assignment. Socrates claims that his actions are what his god commands and that in his belief, “no greater good has ever befallen you in this city than my service to my god…” (30a Apology). Socrates claims that he will never stop practicing philosophy because it is his duty. He will continue to try to make people pay attention to truth, understanding, and the perfection of their souls.
Morality
The question of morality focuses on how we ought to be; how we ought to live. In a conversation with Crito, Socrates states, “to commit injustice is in every case bad and dishonourable for the person who does it” (49b Crito). He simply views that if an act is not just, the person who commits it will always lose from it. Socrates followed by saying “…one ought not to return an injustice or an injury to any person, whatever the provocation” (49c-d Crito). The victim should not retaliate because just as Socrates believes, committing an unjust act will always end badly. In the reading, Socrates says that even if the consequence is worth it to the person committing the unjust act, the act should still not be committed. On top of that, no matter how intense the provocation, Socrates still says do not return an injustice or injury to any person at all. In regards to money and wealth, Socrates has a strong view. In the apology, he states, “Wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and to the State” (30b Apology). Socrates wants people to understand that we should care more for the soul rather than possessions. This leads to self-examination of who we are and how good we are. All the money in the world cannot make a good person. However, if the person is good and commits acts of goodness, that person and the state will gain wealth and other blessings. Socrates claims that god commands him to examine others and put them to the test and try to progress them towards goodness. He also believes that no greater good has ever come to the city, then his service to god. One major concern of Socrates is righteousness. “If we human beings were crafted like buildings, righteousness would be the power that produces the right lines and angles in us” (Rudebusch, p.25). Rudebush also goes on to say that if we have duties to perform as humans, righteousness is the power enabling us to perform them and that Athenians recognized righteousness as an essential piece to human excellence. In Socrates trial, the jury wanted to sentence him to death for unrighteousness. And only a life that avoids unrighteousness is worth living for a human being. Socrates needed this additional premise.
Death
This question focuses on what happens after death. Socrates speaks about what happens after death and what happens to the soul. •In regard to what happens after death, Socrates believes that one of two things can happen. Either it is annihilation, or a migration of the soul from one place to another. However, his view of what really happens is evident when he says, “When any man dies, his own guardian spirit, which was given charge over him in his life, tries to bring him to a certain place where all must assemble, and from which, when they have been sorted out by a process of judgment, they must set out for the next world, under the guidance of one who has the office of escorting souls from one world to the other”(107d-e Phaedo). This traveling of the soul as Socrates explains leads to his belief on if the soul dies at all or of it never perishes. •In regards to the soul, Socrates believes that “…since what is un-dying is also indestructible, if soul is really un-dying, surely it must be imperishable too” (106e Phaedo). If this statement is true about the soul, then the soul is immortal. •In the Phaedo, Socrates also discusses that dying will release a person from their body and wickedness, but the soul cannot escape from evil unless it becomes as good and wise as it possibly can. This is why Socrates preaches the idea of paying more attention to your soul rather than pleasures such as wealth. This way, the soul will not have to deal with the wickedness from the body it was attached.
Critique of Socrates Worldview
There is a major contradiction between Socrates and his view to obey all laws. This is because the laws that he strongly follows were created by politicians of his State. And in the end, the politician’s laws and decisions resulted in his death. Ironically, he fought in the military for around three years to uphold the laws of the state and Crito even offered to get Socrates out of Athens, but he refused to because it was against the law and unfair. Socrates answer for turning down Crito’s offer was his desire to be just. However, one could argue that following an unjust institution would in turn make one unjust. This contradiction is based off of Socrates own definition. Socrates examines wisdom throughout the readings. He believes that he shows wisdom we he admits to something that he does not know. In the readings, Socrates proves that knowledge cannot bring about true wisdom, although his is constantly searching for knowledge and the truth. One can argue that it is a contradiction that he believes in the search for knowledge and the truth, when he believes that accepting ignorance instead of getting knowledge is true wisdom. One objection that one could argue is the Simmias’ objection. This objection states that the soul is like an attunement of a musical instrument. However, one could argue that the attunement can only exist, as long as the instrument exists, and no longer. This would lead a person to believe that a soul is not un-dying. A second objection is the Cebes’ objection. This objection says that perhaps the soul is long lived, and can outlast many bodies. In this, one could argue that the soul is not immortal. A final argument that one could come up with is Socrates total obedience in the god or gods and total obedience to the leaders of Athens. These two acts contradict each other because it would be impossible for him to be obedient to both successfully.
