Socrates (Essay Sample)

Socrates
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Socrates
There are stories that change the way people imagine, think and dream. The death of Socrates is such a story that has continued to influence the culture of the west. Only the death of Jesus has often been compared to that of Socrates due to its controversial nature. Socrates’s trial is the first case in history where a democratic government followed the due process to condemn a person to death for his beliefs. Athens considered as one of the earliest democracies was responsible for the birth of Socrates, his education and finally sentenced him to death for corrupting the young minds and for religious unorthodoxy (Wilson, 2007).
Socrates appeared before a jury for refusing to recognize the gods who were recognized by the rest of the state and for corrupting the youth. After hearing the arguments of Socrates and his accusers’, the jury was asked to vote on whether Socrates was guilty or not. Most of the members of the jury voted that he was guilty. Nevertheless, Socrates was given an opportunity to determine his own punishment. Death was not an option for any ordinary person. However, Socrates did not choose exile but opted for a sarcastic recommendation to be rewarded for his actions (Wilson, 2007). Finally, the jury selected death as Socrates punishment. The law prescribed death by drinking poison, which was a cup of hemlock. Socrates was happy for the opportunity to die by hemlock. According to Socrates, dying by hemlock had three advantages and I quote "it is clear that I will get a chance to death which has been judged easiest or least painful; the death which causes least trouble to one’s family and friends; and the death which makes people feel most grieved for the deceased" (Wilson, 2007).
Surrounded by his friends and student, Socrates drunk the cup of poison and walked about and later complained that his legs were heavy. As advised by the jailor, he lay on his back and was examined just as a physician would examine a patient. The man who administered the poison placed his hands on Socrates to feel his legs and feet. His feet were pinched, and he felt nothing. After that, his thigh upwards became numb, cold and rigid. When the poison reached his heart, Socrates said his last words, "Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius." (Wilson, 2007).
According to Socrates, death is not the last and the worst evil in the world. In fact, Socrates believed that his death sentence was good rather than evil. Death is good according to Socrates because it is simply a state of utter unconsciousness and nothingness. Moreover, death is also the migration and change of the soul to its resting place (Wilson, 2007). However, Socrates proposed that if unconsciousness were not present, then death would be like a sleep of a person undisturbed by even a dream. Such a death would be an unspeakable gain to Socrates. Furthermore, Socrates believed that he would die over and over again just to have conversations with Musaems, Homer, Hesiod, and Orpheus. Socrates also believed that death would give him an opportunity to continue with his work of searching for knowledge of what is true and false in this world (Wilson, 2007). Furthermore, Socrates believed that by being a spirit upon his death, he shall be in a position to find out those who are wise and those who pretend to be wise. Socrates final days were spent with his students and close friends. He did not want any of them to be sad because he was going to die. He refused to let women around him, even his wife because they would be overcome by emotion and start mourning. All he did was to continue with his teaching and hanged on the beliefs he had so much throughout his life (Wilson, 2007).
History records various trails based on religious issues. Socrates was condemned to death after a trial in Athens ...