Jimmy bob

Professor Snider

Essay 4- Socrates does not seem to fear death- why is this the case? Why does Socrates

claim that good Philosophers are more prepared for death? Do you think the pursuit of

knowledge prepares one for death in this way? Is being prepared to die part of leading a

worthwhile life?

Death is something that is not on my mind during the day but it is a subject that is scary

to think about. Thinking about death can lead to overthinking, while it is rare there are actually

many people in this world that do fear death. In the phaedo The famous philosopher Socrates

says that death is nothing to fear. He gives multiple arguments to support his claim that death

should not be feared.

Socrates first argument goes as follows, As Socrates sees it, no one knows if death may

be the greatest good and if someone is fearing death, then they are making a huge mistake

because we do not know what happens after death. For all we know maybe death is a good

thing. Today there are many religions around the world where many of them believe they will

head to a sacred place after passing to the afterlife.

Socrates, is very well known for his claims that his wisdom amounted to knowing that he

knew nothing, claims that he does not know about death. As stated before if he does not know

about death he should not be fearing it due to the fact that he might be avoiding a possible

good. Instead of fearing death he should fear and avoid a certain evil of injustice. In short to

answer the first question Socrates does not fear death because he does not know if death is
good or bad and second, He knows unjust is a known evil on the world so Socrates chooses

death over unjust because death might be a good thing over injustice.

Yes, Socrates did not fear death but in order for you to not be able to fear it there you

must show a great amount of bravery. For all we know we all only have one life. There are

many factors which can make a human be scared of death. For me the only thing that would

make me be scared of death is the thought of not seeing my family ever again. How I die is not

something that concerns me as I know that everybody has their time on this earth. As stated

early any possible evil of death would be less evil than injustice. As such, it could be claimed

that his choice is not a matter of courage and the reason for that is because we already know

how injustice works in this world. We see pain all over the world throughout the years and so

many horrible events have happened in the history of the world that for Socrates would rather

choose death. It is almost as if death at the moment sounded peaceful for Socrates.

Socrates has another argument as to why death is something we should not fear he

claims that death is a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness or a change and

migration of the soul from this world to another. While there are many of us who fear the

thought of nothingness, Socrates obviously does not, he emphasizes that it is actually a huge

gain for us, who doesnt like a great sleep where nothing disturbs you? Not even a bad dream. I

know I do, those always make me feel a whole lot better after a tiring day. For all we know

death is like a great sleeping session. The other opinion from Socrates is the thought of

afterlife. He believes that if one was good in their life they will be judged by it and will forever

live an afterlife happy and immortal. As I had stated earlier many religions believe that this

happens after they die.

 Like a true philosopher, Socrates believed the claims in his own argument, to Socrates

facing death would not seem to be a matter of courage. The reason for this is due to the fact

that that you cant show courage on something that you do not fear. if Socrates believed that

death was really nothing to fear, then facing it without fear would not be courage. The problem

with people that are scared of death is the fact that they overthink it a little too much. However

maybe what people are scared of is the cause of the death. Pain is something that does scare

me about death. The thought of that happens after you die does not worry me one bit. I have

religious beliefs of what happens after I die so that does not worry me. I, just like many people

would prefer a peaceful death in my sleep rather than suffering pain before I leave this earth.

Maybe thats what people fear about death on not what happens after you actually die.

Just as many of us believe that when we die we will go to a sacred place after we die

Socrates also belief that another post death scenario would be going to hell rather than heaven.

After all he offers two alternative when it is easy enough to imagine post-death experiences

that are very horrible indeed, such as Hell or a Hell like place where people are unhappy and

immortal. Both of these deaths would definitely be something to be scared of. What would be

needed is, of course, evidence that only good things can happen to the good because that is

also something that we dont know. Maybe Bad things also happen to good people in death like

it happens in this world. Socrates believes that he is a good person which is also why he

believes that good thing will happen to those who act right during their time on earth.

Socrates who as stated earlier believes that he is a good man so of course he makes

exactly that claim. no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. Socrates is

well aware that he has been sentenced to death, must people would see this with harm but
since he is sure that he has been a good man he believes that he will not be neglected by the

gods Not surprisingly Socrates has a similar view that is held by the martyrs, well at least that is

how they are generally portrayed in the stories. That is, in the stories they receive a proper

reward for their martyrdom. If someone knows or at least believes that death is actually a great

gain, then choosing death or accepting death are not acts of courage as stated earlier.

At the beginning of the Phaedo, his friends have come to visit Socrates for the last time.

As they are lamenting his fast approaching death, Socrates attempts to make them feel better,

and while they are wondering why he is so peaceful on the day where he will see his end, he

says that it would be ridiculous for him to shrink from what he has been working toward his

whole life, he says to them that philosophy is nothing other than the preparation for death.

They still cannot understand why the philosopher would be fine with dying, and Socrates hopes

to take away their fears of death while helping them understand of a figurative death where

desires cease to control the soul. Not only does Socrates want them to understand the

figurative nature of death, he also wants them to literally think about death as well and that

there was nothing to fear.

While death is scary to think about I do believe that Socrates is right and philosophy

does prepare you for death. Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge. I

personally believe that not everyone can be a philosopher. You have to have a strong mind and

not a weak one. As a philosopher, you must be able to dig deep in to your mind. Fear is

something that affects the way us humans think. In a state of calm, we use the higher, more

complex parts of our brain to process and act on information. With fear, we use the lower,

more primitive parts of our brain. As the fear level goes up, the less thoughtful and the more
reactive our responses become. Actions with fear may be governed by emotional and reactive

thinking styles which affects the way we handle the truth or blinds us from seeing the truth.

With fear, we cannot open up our minds and go on with our everyday lives. If Socrates lived

with fear he wouldnt have been the philosopher that he was. Death was just another world

to expand his knowledge since nobody knows what happens after you die.

They only way I can see us preparing for death is not caring about it at all. It is very

important for us humans to enjoy life at the moment. Death will come to everyone so why fear

it? There is no way around it. For all we know death is a good thing and us overthinking about it

makes us not enjoy our current lives.