Socrates Virtue Essay

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Recommended: The influence of Socrates on Western civilization

Dr. W. Windelband states,
“Socrates teaches, indeed, even according to Xenophon, that man's true fortune is to be sought, not in outward goods nor in luxurious life, but in virtue alone: if, however, this virtue is to consist only in the capacity to recognize the truly useful and act accordingly, the doctrine moves in a circle as soon as it maintains that this truly useful is just virtue itself. In this circle Socrates remained fast; the objective determination of the conception of the good which he sought he did not find.” Socrates was charged by Athens for corrupting the youth and impiety. The following is from the Socrates’ apology as recorded by Plato:
“Men of Athens, I respect you and I am your friend, but I shall obey God rather than you… Wealth does not bring virtue, but virtue brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and to the state… Either acquit me or not; but whichever you do, understand that I shall …show more content…

For you must know, dearest Crito, that this false way of speaking not only is wrong in itself, but also does harm to the soul. Rather you should be of good courage, and say that it is my body you are burying; and this you may do as you please, and in the way which you think most conformable to custom here." Socrates laughed and joked on the day of his death. Plato, describes in the Phaedo, Apology and Crito the last days of Socrates. Per Karl Jaspers, “These are among the few irreplaceable documents of mankind. All through antiquity men of philosophical mind read it and learned how to die at peace by accepting their lot, however cruel and

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