Sunday, August 3, 2008
Week One - What the Heck am I studying Philosophy for anyway???
Write your initial thoughts on blogging with philosophy and perhaps your thoughts on the initial readings here. A good question to start with: Do you agree or disagree with Socrates' decision to accept his punishment? Would you have made the same decision? Why or why not?
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37 comments:
I believe if I was Socrates i would have accepted my punishment. Not going through with it would make me a hypocrite. Escaping would have left him looking like a coward and as he said, guilty of breaking the law thus a corrupter of young men.
Personally, I am surprised he lasted as long as he did. The Romans were a very ego driven society. I am surpirsed someone he insulted didn't have him killed in his sleep.
Human nature would tell one to flee whether guilty or innocent. Socrates overcame these feelings and was more concerned about his friends. Crito and Socrates' friends feel accountable for Socrates' death. Whether he stays and dies or tries to escape, the friends of Socrates would be looked down upon, either for helping him to escape or letting him die. Socrates tells Crito not listen to the common man but care about only what a knowledgeable/good person's opinion says. He was more concerned whether Crito understood justice and injustice.
I agree with Socrates decision to accept his punishment. If he would have escaped justice it would have gone against his principles. Honoring his words and agreeing to live by the laws made him a great philosopher.
I agree with Socrates' decision to accept his punishment. He was a man for his words, he did what he thought was right. He said "For no one knows whether death may not be the greatest good that can happen to man. But men fear it as if they knew quite well that it was the greatest of evils. And what is this but that shameful ignorance of thinking that we know what we do not know?" He was not afraid to face death for what he did, and he proved it.
Reading the chapters before the class was challenging because of following the conversation of Socrates and Euthyphro. Much of there talk seems to just re-phrase what the other said. Both asking the same question with not alot of answers. I do feel that Socrates stating that escaping would go against his principals was positive.
The discussions in class are helpful to understand what we are reading and actually hearing that others in the class have gotten the same message!
I think it was silly for Socrates to not escape prison and save himself. He could've escaped and potentially found a more descreet way to point out how unwise people were. However, I do agree with people standing by their principles and allowing nothing to alter them. I don't think him allowing himself to be killed had the effect that he had hoped. People were just relieved that he was gone.
I found the reading of parts 1-3 challenging and hard to understand. I can understand Socrates determination of his beliefs. I, myself, am a firm believer with my morales of life. Fighting for survival of life, I feel, would be worth fighting for. His actions of refusing to escape when given the opportunity did surprise me; but he did make a good point why he did not want to escape in which he would be going against his beliefs.
I found the readings to be difficult to understand. I really think working in groups in class was very helpful in helping me understand the readings and the questions.
Before going to class, I was completely lost. After the first class, I realize that Philosophy is really like a debate class. Some of the philosophers are so stubborn, they are so set in their ways. Ex. Socrates wanted to explain and preach to people about his principles and beliefs, but he didn't want to escape because that would violate his principles. I think nothing is as important as keeping your own live. Just like what Bryn said, it was a very silly decision.
I think it is natural for people to try to avoid any type of punishment regardless if they feel they deserve it or not. I personally have strong religious principles. I am very open minded to other things and other peoples principles. I think it was great that Socrates stood by his princples regardless of the punishment.
I agree with dara that the readings were a little difficult to follow. They seemed to keep repeating each other over and over.
As with nick I am surprised that Socrates lasted as long as he did. Socrates seemed to insult people often.
Before coming to class I was very comfused out Philosophy and the reading. Now that I have attended the first class I have a great understanding of what philosophy is and what is expected out of me. Philosophy ties into our everyday lives. The overview of the consider and answer from our assignment helped tie our reading together. Class discussion help with my understanding of the term Philosophy.
After reading these passages I found it as hard to understand as Shakespear. It needed interpretation. Hearing and reading the views of others in class made me think beyond my own understanding and opened my thoughts to other views and opinions
I thought is was very interesting that the study of things is called philosophy until there is definite knowledge about the subject. The study of the heavens was once philosophy, now it is called astronomy. Same with psychology. I wonder what current topic of philosophy will be solved next?
Are we more "practical" people today then the past? With all this new technology and easier ways of accessing information, do you think we keep our minds full of food?
That is very interesting Diana. We are bombarded with information these days. I think it makes it more important to try and figure out what is true and what is not. So many times we are e-mailed the latest story only to find out it is not true. Many people forward it before checking out the validity.
The other down side is that we are relying on ohter people to tell us what is happening and then we get their slant on it. We no longer read the book or watch the event, we wait for the synopsis and bese our opinions on that.
How much knowledge does one need? We all are trying to get our degrees. Our companies, our society, our peers seem to think the more you know the better off you'll be. Didn't do Socrates much good did it? How much knowledge do we need to obtain to be considered smart or educated. Socrates tried to define knowlwedge without much success. Is wisdom and knowledge the same? You can study and learn your whole life and not be considered smart or knowledgable. Knowledge is a continuing non stopping achievement of life that has no end. We are continually striving to obtain knowledge until the the day we leave this earth.
I agree on Diana's comment on our technology.With the "new age" of computers and science and technology you would think we would be in the philosophy books with all our wisdom.
Posting a comment to respond to a classmate...........I agree with Nick Missos about Socrates accepting his punishment. I too, feel if he would have escape it would have made him look guilty and trying to run for what he believes in makes him look like a hypocrite. Socrates seemed like a type of person who didn't let other peoples feelings or thoughts effect his actions. You Go Socrates! lol!
I have had the "debate" and basically, if you try to agree with him he argues also! After about 5 minutes you have to take the hemlock! I agree with the others stating that he is lucky he made it as long as he did! I was ready to kill him myself!
When reading Socrates, I was confused because it seemed they re-phrased what each other said and Socrates seemed to go around and around.
After being in the first class, it help to understand more of what was going on and what they were trying to accomplish.
I will agree with Troy. Knowledge did not save Socrates. If anything he annoyed the crowd by continuing to run around in circles getting them to be on his side then throwing himself to the wolves!
What is knowledge? Is it the same as wisdom? How about common sense? I had a guy I worked with who had a very high IQ. He joined the Peace Corps and taught Calculus in French. However, he was socially inept and had no common sense whatsoever. If you didn't know he was bright you may have thought he was mentally challenged. I think knowledge is a combination of Wisdom, learning and COmmon Sense. Wisdom is gained through experiences in life. Learning can help you prepare for these moments when you rely on wisdom to keep you safe. Common sense is the knowledge you gain through experiences that keep you out of situations whre you will need wisdom.
I am a little confused.........Are we suppose to a response for week #2 under Week #1 Blog? If someone could fill me in that would be great. I have been waiting for Week #2 blog area to post but nothing........and class is tomorrow. Thanks
I had a hard time answering week two homework. I thought they were very difficult questions. Tomorrows class will be interesting to see how others anwered these.
It is amazing that these conversations were spoken back in 399 B.C. and they understood each other.
I believe today if you walked up to a friend on the street and asked the same question you would not get anything resolved.
I agree with Diana that if you ask a friend those questions in Socrates' conversation, nobody would be able to answer ya.
The module 2 homework and reading is very confusing. I felt better after the first night of class but after reading the knowledge stuff, I am confused.... again.
I define knowledge as something you learn and gain through life or school; wisdom is like the intelligence you have. Am I on the right track? Confused..... :(
I guess I look at the group of Socrates's peers more as colleagues then friends. These are the men that he works with everyday. Their relationship dictates that conversations that they have. They are the trainers of young men. Their conversations are much more educational and thought provoking then conversations I would have with my friends in a relaxed setting. I am sure some people get together to have deep conversations but I would guess that their minds are in altered states at the time.
I thumbed through the chapters ahead of week 1 and thought WOW. I am not a philosophy kind of person. After reading I think it was worse!! I am open to learn.....
I agree with Amanda that it is great to see someone like Socrates stand by his principles reguardless of the outcome-good or bad. It is good to see that there are people that have that ability to do that.
I think that Socrates was right to go forward and accept what he had coming to him in the form of punishment. He did break the law.
I agree with what Nick and Amanda said about Socrates lasting as long as he did. He defenitely wouldn't have lasted that long in today's world.
I am also confused after the second set of reading. I think it is just because we are not used to reading things like this.
Just finished this week's readings. I found it easier to follow than last weeks. Socrates is still hard to follow but his time he didn't talk in circles as much as he did the first week. Descartes: "I think, therefore I am." If we have conscious thought abilities, then we must exist.
Locke: We are not born with knowledge or even preconceived notions, they are things we learn through interaction and experience.
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