There are many people who hold the belief that "you are what you do." This seems somewhat reasonable. In fact, it is similar to an idea that Socrates has in the Apology. Socrates claims that a person "should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong, whether he is acting like a good or bad man."
Explain WHY Socrates makes this claim and explain the reasons he gives to support it. Feel free to comment on whether or not you think this is a reasonable claim.
5 comments:
I think that Socrates makes this claim because it says that it is only he that can really determine if his actions are good or bad, and if he is acting like a good man or a bad man. The reasons he uses to support this claim is that he knows that the gods are there because he can see what they do. What this has to do with his claim is that when you see someone, like Socrates, doing something, like practicing philosophy, it is what he is and what he does and that it shouldn't be considered bad or good but only by you.
Socrates believes that a person, who is "any good at all" should take into account, the risk of life or death, is like being wise when one is not. He believes that only the actions (good or bad) depend on who you are and what you are doing. He's in a monologue the entire time, but he starts off with the question: if he is ashamed of following the occupation of which lead to him being in danger of death. Socrates then says that a man who is any good, should not take into account the risk of life or death. It's only a matter of whether the actions done by that person is good or bad.
In my opinion, i believe that this is a reasonable claim, however, it isn't ALL to determine if one is good or bad. Since Socrates makes it vague in his explanation, it's pretty easy to agree with him.
-----Fahmida Ferdousi
Perhaps Socrates doesn't think his answer is vague ;-)
Good people WILL DO good things. THe things they do depend on a persons personality. The good will do good and bad will do bad
Good people will never pourposly do bad because it is just not in them. And Bad people wont do good things because its not there thing.
But with all this said. Socrates has one flaw Good and bad might be Bad and good in eyes of different people. Why should I think what you do is good when to me it seems bad. It jsut dosent cover all points and like The above poster Fahmida said, It seems vague.
But, if he dosent think he is vague...well then this is probally why they killed him
I think that by practicing philosophy Socrates is doing a good thing and this makes him a good person. This proves Socrates innocence this way, because by looking at ones actions one can decide is the man doing those actions is good or bad based on if those actions are good or bad.
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