The essay focuses on Platonic literature about the later days of the Socrates who existed in Athens, Greece during the early centuries. Plato, an Athenian, was born on 427B.C. to an elite family that was greatly involved in the politics of Greece during the rule of Pericles, who was his step-father. Plato studied under the Socrates whom he developed close friendship though when they were executed in 399B.C, he distanced himself from the Athenian politics and ventured into Western philosophy.
As a teacher, he extended Socrates inquiries to his students, one of them being Aristotle. He founded an educational institution, the Academy, which focused on philosophical studies.
Furthermore, Plato wrote several works including the famous one, “The Republic,” which was edited by two authors, Hugh Tredennick, who was a professor of classics at London University Faculty of Arts, Royal Holloway College, and Harold Tarrant, who was also a professor of classics and head of the School of Liberal Arts at University of Newcastle, Australia. What were some Plato’s ideas concerning the Athenians focusing on Socrates?
Plato’s ideas focused on education, poltics, religion and legal systems of the Athenians. Socrates was born between 470-469BC, ten years after the conclusion of the Persian wars, at a time when Athens’ economy, military and education sector were recovering. Born in a family where his father was a stonemason, he was not able to get good education.
Socrates made strongly efforts to ensure that the Athenian youths were well educated, his point of focus being the quality of their souls. Most of the education that existed was basically practical skills that were geared towards transformation of the life of the young men. Socrates concern was mostly on the young men of Alcibiades and Charm ides who were most sought-after at that time though his feelings were much erosious leading to an unusual course (Plato 27).
Plato, just like Socrates, had a great passion for knowledge, although he lacked finances to fund formal courses, he preferred engaging the professional intellections in conversations. It is the lack of formal education that portrays him as having not acquired wisdom what could lead to him being famed by it (361d-e). Plato vividly points out that it requires philosophical experience in order to be able to arrange the universe and this philosophy is got through the formal education that one gets in school.
This is seen when he points out that “Socrates is in charge of a weird school of philosophy” (Plato 28), yet in real sense such school never existed. Most of Socrates guidance was intelligent governing principles that are why he was seen as being very clever. Acknowledging Plato, the Charmides and Protagoras painted an outstanding youthful picture of him having a conversation with Charmides and he is portrayed as being much contentious and headstrong.
Plato views the Apology as a struggle between two centers of piety where one overlooks the others religious duty which are fused with ones duty to the traditional values of the city.
Thus, for an individual not participating in religious ceremonies but giving respect to the political institutions and social principles, could have a social breakdown if he or she keenly follows it. The dispute between Socrates and Athens is looked at by Euthyphro as the piety that preserves both private household and the cities and that the results of impiety were felt by both families and the cities.
Socrates believed that trespasses can cause harm to an individual and that divine law does not permit the better individual to be harmed by the worse (apology 30b-c). He says that laws of justice should not be used to suppress and oppress guilty individuals especially on the Socrates like him. Plato exemplifies this to Georgia’s view 474d-480d, he says that punishment is due for an individual who has broken the law as it relieves him injustice and that it is this justice that determines the individual will act justly (Plato 33).
Though he did not like the Athenian laws, he was forced to adhere to them as because higher law calls for obedience to just agreements, and that by one deciding to reside in a given city means that he or she has agreed to abide by the laws stipulated. Apology 37 further points out that the higher authority associated with God and individuals’ perception precedes the derived authority of the city laws. It is this that leads to the Socrates following the Athenians and even supporting them in everything that came about.
In conclusion according to Plato, education is a key element in an individual as it invokes ones thought and actions, and this is what that thrives a nation. By being a philosopher one is able to understand the laws and interpret them effectively thus preventing a conflict from the centers of authority.
He demonstrates this practically when the people vehemently resisted to follow the Athenians laws due to misconceptions of the law, but they finally accepted to abide and work closely with the authority after being taught about the law. Intelligence is an important tool in a human being as it gives him or her knowledge and experience to act with respect to the law.
Works Cited
Plato, Tredennick. The last days of Socrates. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003. Print.