Socratic Intellectualism Vs Aquinas Research Paper

2436 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of morality and ethics

Socratic Intellectualism Vs. Aquinas' Theory of Evil
Growing up, you learn about God and his creations. He created everything in our world in six days. When God created humans he had a choice to make. He could either give us the power of free will or create us to already love Him and be forced to do His will. Obviously, He chose the first one. Originally there was no sin in the world and Adam and Eve lived happily in the Garden of Eden. God gave them one rule though, they were not allowed to eat of the tree in the garden. One day though, Satan disguised himself and tricked them into eating an apple. God was very disappointed and from then on he allowed sin in the world.
This was the beginning of evil in the world. The real question though …show more content…

They were not planning on doing something bad, they just happened to without even realizing it. He says that what you do is based on what you believe to be right. For instance he uses the example, “If I believe that the glass of water in from of me is poisoned, I will not drink it-unless I believe that dying will be better for me than living, given my present circumstances,” (Soccio 113). Obviously drinking poison would be bad, but based on Socrates belief someone would only drink it if they truly believed that it was the right thing to do. They are just confused as to what the correct beliefs are.
Socrates furthers this argument by questioning intellectually "And we have admitted that when we act for any purpose, we do not desire the action itself but the object of the action?" (Soccio 112). Socrates tried to assure people that we do not commit evil crimes because we want to harm other civilians. He states that it is the aftermath of the crime that people are aiming for. For example, someone does not copy of someone’s test to get them in trouble. There is an incentive, and it has nothing to do with the person they are copying. They are trying to benefit themselves and get a higher

Show More
Related

  • Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem by Erich Fromm

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    Let’s go back to biblical times for just a moment. Fromm explains that during the time Adam and Eve reside in the Garden of Eden, they live in innocence and harmony. This harmony is disrupted by the “Act of Disobedience,” which is labeled in biblical terms as the “original sin.” This act of disobedience describes the first moral flaw, and the consequential corruption of mankind. By disobeying God, Adam and Eve take the first steps towards independence and freedom. This helps them reach their spiritual and intellectual capacity. After Adam and Eve leave the Garden of Eden, they create a new harmony referred to as “the end of days” (622). To the prophets, man is right to disobey; this allows him to think for himself. In many ways, parents encourage kids to think for themselves. By simply picking out their clothes or packing their own lunch, children move away from following their parents, and towards the formation of their own identities...

    Read More

  • The Apology: A Philosophical Way Of Life

    1001 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Pierre Hadot, “Thus philosophy was a way of life, both in its exercise and effort to achieve wisdom, and its goal, wisdom itself. For real wisdom does not merely cause us to know: it makes us “be” in a different way” ( Pierre 265) This explanation of a philosophical way of life is in all ways the definition of Socrates’ life. Socrates made his way through his entire life living in this way, seeking out wisdom, seeking out answers and never once got in trouble with the court until the age of seventy years old. He believed that by telling people about ignorance and wisdom, that he was only doing so for the good of the people. Socrates even goes as far as saying, “I am that Gadfly which God has attached to the state, and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you”(Plato 9). Socrates believes that he was sent from God to show people a different way of life, a life of questioning and reason to which he should teach to all people. When asked if he was ashamed of a course of life of which would likely bring him to an untimely end Socrates says, “you are mistaken: a man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying; he ought only to consider whether in doing anything he is doing right or wrong” (Plato 7).

    Read More

  • Gorgias

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... doing what we want when the outcome is wicked. Moral goodness is a form of knowledge to him, and that knowledge is necessary in order to do well. It is the good that we strive to achieve by doing what we see fit, but if we do what we see fit and actually create a wicked outcome we are not truly doing what we want. In order to do what we want we must have the knowledge of moral goodness to do what is right, and not to inflict suffering on someone else. In order to be morally sound it is better to receive the suffering at the hands of another than inflict injustice on us and become miserable. Though Polus does not want to accept this Socrates, in the end, brings him to his side.

    Read More

  • Plato's The Crito

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    Socrates was a man of good principles. He was not afraid of was committing himself as a sacrifice to save his family’s rights. He knew that his situation caused a dilemma that needed to be taken into consideration by reasoning what was right. Socrates says in his dialogue with Crito, “[…] and if I am clearly right is escaping then I will make the attempt, but if not, I will abstain.”(1). in his discussion, Socrates challenges the idea of escaping, but in the latter conversation he explains, “Then we ought not to retaliate or rend...

    Read More

  • Mencius And Aquinas Analysis

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lee Yearley, the Religious Studies professor of Stanford University, works mainly in comparative religious ethics and poetics. His focus is particularly on materials from China and the West. For example, both his book Mencius and Aquinas: Theories of Virtue and Conceptions of Courage (abbreviated as Mencius and Aquinas below) and Journal Virtues and Religious Virtues in the Confucian Tradition discuss the field of early Chinese thoughts as well as relating Chinese cultures with western religions.

    Read More

  • Socrates In The Apology

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Are we to say that we are never intentionally to do wrong, or that in one way we ought not to do wrong, or is doing wrong always evil and dishonorable, as I was just now saying, and as has been already acknowledged by us? (Dover p.49)” Socrates’ standard is that he refuses to see justice as an eye for an eye. He believes that logical arguments and persuasion should be the defense of the accused. Socrates believes that since he cannot convince the people who ruled against him that there is no other option then to pay the sentence that he was

    Read More

  • Socrates Apology Analysis

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    He applies this logic to mean that he must go around Athens and show others that they are not actually wise, so that they can become intelligent like him. As a result, he feels he is helping the society of Athens as a whole. By a small number, Socrates is found guilty and the jury comes to a decision to put Socrates to death. To further his display of haughty behavior Socrates’ response is to say in a mostly joking manner that the city should be giving him a medal of honor. He continues on to reject exile and prison time, suggesting that he pay a fine. Socrates’ reaction is unlike what is to be expected. He believes that it is ridiculous to fear the after-life because it does not make sense to fear things he does not know (29c). When given a chance to defend himself Socrates doesn’t cry, beg, or bring family matters into the courtroom, thinking it better to die after an honorable defense than live on against his own

    Read More

  • Socrates and His Escape

    1786 Words  | 4 Pages

    to death and this was the path he chose. He once stated that " If an action is unjust, it should be avoided even if it causes some undesirable side effects. " The reason I refer to this quote is because I think Socrates was trying to say that he must not attempt an escape although an execution was already awaiting for him.

    Read More

  • Philosophy 101, By Paul Klienman

    506 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lavine explains in his book From Socrates to Sartre, these points of not only Socrates' defense, but of his philosophy as well. “The only true wisdom,” he writes, “consists in knowing that you know nothing” (15). Lavine describes the second point as “[. . .] the improvement or 'tendance' of the soul, the care for wisdom and truth, is the highest good. [. . .] Virtue does not come from money, but from virtue comes money and every other good thing for mankind, public and private” (15). Lavine describes the third point as the Athenians throwing a gift back in the face of their own gods. Socrates' point being that their gods sent him “to be stirred by [his] sting” (16). Socrates' final defense was, as explained by Lavine, “If virtue is knowledge, and if to know the good is to do the good, then wrongdoing comes only from failure to know what is good. [. . .] if you really understood the right thing to do, you would have done it”

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Not Leaving Prison By Socrates

    297 Words  | 1 Pages

    Socrates’ argument in his defense of not leaving prison is formulated on the basis that no harm should ever be done to another person. In Socrates’ discussion with Crito, they both agree that harm should never be done regardless of being wronged. Following their agreement on no harm ever being committed, they also agree that if someone comes to a just agreement with another person, then they should fulfill that agreement. Socrates’ next point comes from whether or not harm is being inflicted if that agreement is not fulfilled. Socrates says that if those who enforce the law cannot enforce those same laws, then it would be an attempt to destroy the city.

    Read More

  • Socrates Views Of Death In Plato's The Apology

    498 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although deeply illuminating, in my view, the philosophy behind Socrates and all of his actions in response to the accusations brought forth against him, as depicted in Plato’s “The Apology”, is ironically quite straightforward. To understand Socrates’ actions or rather lack of it to prevent a probable severe punishment, as far as this case goes, it is important to analyze two specific believes of him; his believe regarding death, and his belief about living. To begin with, Socrates clearly shows his complete acceptance of death as an innocuous end that should not justify any means, “if you suppose that a man who is of even a little benefit should take into account the danger of living or dying, but not rather consider this alone whenever he acts: whether his actions are just or unjust, and the deeds of a good man or a bad” (West, p. 28b) demoting an argument that would ease a

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Socrates's View On Death

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    He is saying that if we fear death or to live our life a certain way then we won’t accomplish anything. If we wake up everyday, and we are scared of not getting into our dream job, then we are not going to even try to do what it takes to get that job. Socrates states” Wherever a man has taken up a position because he considers it best, or has been posted there by his commander, that is where I believe he should remain, steadfast in danger, taking no account all of death or of anything else rather than dishonor.” Socrates is trying to show if we examine that what we think something is the best option in life then we need to take that course of action, even in cases where we risk dying or getting hurt it doesn’t matter. We should be living a life without fear of dying because if we didn’t we wouldn’t be living our life to the fullest. When we live our life to the fullest that means that we will have no regrets about the things we do while we are live. Socrates comes to accept this when he tells that truth in court instead of getting sympathy from the jurors. Socrates states “I have no regrets about defending myself as I did; I should far present a defence and die, than live by defending myself in that other fashion”. Even if we are scared about our future, we shouldn’t stop living our

    Read More

  • Socrates The Apology Analysis

    1738 Words  | 4 Pages

    This quote also shows that Socrates is also trying to convince the people around him that there are more worthwhile things than money and expensive things, such as knowledge and wisdom. Overall, Socrates values his teachings (which are wisdom and gaining knowledge is more important than money and materialistic things) so much that he is willing to “die many times” (The Apology) to try to convince people that his teachings are precious life lessons that will benefit the

    Read More

  • St. Aquinas Research Paper

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion vs. Politics, human law vs. divine law, and good government vs. bad government, are all things that hold strong influence over the people in society, and determines their behavior towards one another. Whether it be good or bad. To maintain order amongst the people, laws must be created, and therefore, should be reflective to everyone as a whole, is one widely held popular view. Another is that those who cause trouble should only be subjected to the law. And lastly, law is suppose to protect the good people from those who do badly. Law holds so much power, yet many people still break it. In this paper, I will explore the religious, philosophical, and political views of St. Thomas Aquinas in relation to the law in society, through his following works: The Doctrine of Necessary Being, the Halfway State of Being, the Weakness of

    Read More

  • The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates was a wise man who realized that life was not something that could be easily understood. He knew that questioning life would lead to a stronger conception of life and reality. When he stated that “the unexamined life is not worth living” (Plato 45), he truly meant that without questioning life, one would not be truly living. Actions would have no understanding of being right or wrong. For Socrates, a man who believed that life should be based on what was right, there would be no greater wrongdoing.

    Read More

More about Socratic Intellectualism Vs Aquinas Research Paper

Open Document