What a Good Man Is According to Socrates - Essay Example

Plato ApologyTo get to the bottom of what a good man is according to Socrates, study of the early dialogues by Plato is important. According to Plato, this understanding revolves around the relationship between moral goodness and virtue. In the Apology by Socrates, after the acquittal, Socrates tells the jurors who were impressed by his confidence that he does not fear death since he cannot fear what he does not know.“The difficult thing is not to escape death, but to escape wickedness.” He elaborates that those who fear things they don’t know claims knowledge of things they do not know.

And since no one has ever experienced death, even if he was released on the condition that he stops his philosophy, he would not accept such trade. His argument is that he relies on truth that evil things do not happen to good people whether they are dead or alive, and that god is not oblivious to the concerns (pragrata) of such a good person. “No evil can happen to a good man either living or dead. (p28)”.The fact that Socrates regards himself as a good man during the Apology is a contrast that Socrates poses to himself.

In his earlier dialogue, Socrates believes that virtue cannot be claimed without moral knowledge, which he claims not to have. Without in-depth understanding of claim by Socrates, it is easier to assume that the claims by Socrates would only be valid if he also believes that, to certain extent, one can be good without necessarily having moral virtue.According to Socrates, and indeed with surety, heviews the virtuous as good. However, the virtuous cannot claim goodness if they lack moral wisdom that is needed to have the virtue.

Away from trying to pursue the true thing that Socrates has in mind with his claim, it is almost obvious for one to deny the claim of Socrates that he does not possess the virtue which he insists he is still seeking. In the Apology, Socrates reveals that his friendChairphon, was told by oracle, Delphic that Socrates was the wisest person and that there was no one else as wise as he was. .the fact is that neither of us knows anything beautiful and good, but he thinks he does know when he doesn't, and I don't know and don't think I do: so I am wiser than he is by only this trifle, that what I do not know I don't think I do. (p. 26)At this point, Socrates admits that he has some wisdom slightly higher than the rest of his fellow human in Athens, a wisdom which is given by god.

But to some people, they claim wisdom of knowing how people should live than they actually know. At this point, Plato reveals what Socrates describes as a good life. A life where you live by sincerity of what you know. Something he claims to be “truth”. Socrates views himself to be morally superior by being sincerely with the limited wisdom he has. He compares his superiority to others who claim knowledge they don’t have. At this point, Socrates addresses the virtue of morality as a key of being a good man.

References Cary, H. (1926). Crito; a Socratic dialogue.. Paris: Pleiad.