Term Paper on "Alleged Hypocrisy of Socrates it Is Important"

Term Paper 7 pages (1954 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Alleged Hypocrisy of Socrates

It is important to note that, in the Apology, Socrates shows a will to go against authority. He is defiant in his trial and displays a clear contempt for his accusers (Plato, 1995 ed). He insists that he has the right to speak about philosophy, despite his enemies' claim that he does not. Scorates insists that one should never betray what he believes is just. This is what the gods believe, he argues, and that the beliefs of the gods should have precedence over laws.

Socrates believes that citizens are under a prima facie obligation to obey the law regardless on their stand about how unjust the law might be (Plato, 1995 ed). In the Apology, he stresses that, when confronted with a law that one profoundly disagrees with, one can set aside the general duty to obey and argue their point. On the other hand, in the Crito, Socrates says just the opposite, arguing that one should obey the law in an effort to avoid a sense of chaos.

In modern times, it is legal to disagree, maybe even healthy disagree with the law, but not to disobey it. In the Crito, Socrates suggested that law transcends man. When reading the Apology and the Crito, it seems like a contradiction exists.

The Debate

While many of Socrates' biggest fans argues that his arguments do not contradict themselves, many others argues that the contents of the Apology and Crito provide clear evidence for this conclusion (Yahoo, 2004). The main debate here comes from the two texts, in which Socrates seems to contradict himself by emphasizing the importance of obeying the gods in the Apology and then stressing the importance of obeying the laws in the Crito. This paper attempts to provide evidence that, while it may seem that Socrates is a hypocrite in these two works, the texts actually show otherwise.

Supporters of Socrates argue that this contradiction does not hold given his views on persuasion (Yahoo, 2004). However, opponents believe that this objection does not logically follow given the textual evidence. Even if this objection did follow logically, they argue, it is an inadequate solution for the contradiction because even Socrates' views on persuasion are contradictory. In addition, the timing of the emergence of Socrates' statement about persuasion reveals its simple impromptu character.

There is little argument about the claim that Socrates espouses differing ideas of obedience in the Apology and Crito. Socrates himself distinctively proclaims these ideas. During his defense, Socrates states (Yahoo, 2004): "If you said to me in this regard: 'Socrates, we do not believe Anytus now; we acquit you, but only on the condition that you spend no more time on this investigation and do not practice philosophy, and if you are caught doing so you will die,' if, as I say, you were to acquit me on those terms, I would say to you: "Gentlemen of the jury, I am grateful and I am your friend, but I will obey the god rather than you, and as long as I draw breath and am able, I shall not cease to practice philosophy" (29c-d)

Socrates stated that if his only punishment were prohibition against philosophy, he would not follow the jury's mandate (the law) (Yahoo, 2004). Supposedly he would not follow the law because he chooses to follow the will of the gods instead.

However, while awaiting his death, Socrates says (Yahoo, 2004): "To do so is right, and one must not give way or retreat or leaves one's post, but both in war and in courts and everywhere else, one must obey the commands of one's city and country, or persuade it as to the nature of justice." (51b-c) Socrates is saying that one must always obey the commands of one's city (the laws). The two statements are thus incongruent.

It is frequently argued that Socrates' views about persuasion make these two statements agreeable. The second quote says, one must obey the commands of the city, "or persuade it as to the nature of justice (Yahoo, 2004)." During his defense, Socrates says that he will follow the gods' will. The defense is his chance to persuade the court. When he says later that he must follow the laws, he has already failed in his attempt to persuade the court. Therefore, it can be argued that he gave up his objections and followed the laws as he claimed he should in the Crito. In this light, it can be argued that Socrates' alleged contradiction makes sense within the context of his views on persuasion.

However, many argues that this argument is not supported by the text in the two works (Yahoo, 2004). In the first quote, Socrates says that he would not obey the command of the jury ("I will obey the god rather than you"). According to Yahoo (2004): "This act of disobedience would necessarily occur after his defense and attempt at persuasion. So, assuming that the jury's mandate is law, Socrates himself refutes the objection by saying that he would disobey the law even if he had failed in his opportunity to persuade. Saying that Socrates' view of persuasion makes his statements agreeable does absolutely nothing to untangle Socrates from his contradiction."

In addition, Socrates' perspective on persuasion is inadequate to reconcile his contradictions because even his views on persuasion are contradictory (Yahoo, 2004). In the Apology Socrates discusses failed instruction and the subsequent punishment. When informing Meletus that any corruption of the youth is accidental, Socrates says: "Now if I corrupt them unwillingly, the law does not require you to bring people to court for such unwilling wrongdoings, but to get hold of them privately, to instruct them and exhort them." (26b)

It seems that instruction is similar enough to persuasion to justify using the two words interchangeably (Yahoo, 2004). Both involve using a dialogue in an attempt to change an undesirable behavior. Meletus does not prosecute justly because he never tries to instruct Socrates; and only after attempts at instruction fail is punishment just in cases of unwilled wrongdoing (for after instruction unwilled wrongdoing necessarily becomes willful wrongdoing). Therefore, if Meletus is unable to persuade the one who wrongs unwillingly (Socrates), then he justified in punishing Socrates.

This view definitely seems to contradict the view given by Socrates in the Crito (Yahoo, 2004). In the Crito, Socrates is the one who must persuade the one who unwillingly does wrong (the jury in their unjust verdict). After persuasion fails to change the unjust behavior, punishment is justified. Punishment in this case calls for punishment of the jury and its laws. This demonstrates that in his discussions on persuasion in the Apology, Socrates contradicts himself.

During the Apology, Socrates never discussed the need to obey the laws if he cannot persuade them (although he does discuss persuasion). Socrates has many opportunities in the Apology to make assertions about his views on persuasion.

Prior to the verdict announcement, Socrates says (Yahoo, 2004), "I do not think it right to supplicate the jury and to be acquitted because of this (begging), but to teach and persuade them." (35c) This is one opportunity for Socrates to verbalize his idea of giving into the law of man after persuasion has failed; yet, he does not do so. This thought is found only in the Crito. If this sort of argument was in his mind from the beginning, it was never spoken of. The persuasion objection is simply an ad-hoc device used by Socrates to appease his followers in their concern over his contradictory statements.

According to Yahoo (2004): "Socrates is considered by many to be the father of philosophy. Only pagans and devout Socratic admirers would take this to imply that Socrates is an infallible god. God's lead by revelation and command, Socrates led by example. Socrates was a mere man, and men make mistakes. One verbal contradiction does not change anything with regards to Socrates' devotion to virtue and philosophy. If anything, it makes Socrates' story all the more admirable, because it reveals Socrates' humanity. If he were a god, his actions would have been expected, not remarkable. Instead of criticizing Socrates for not being a god, we should praise him for being human."

Conclusion

While there are excellent arguments for both sides of the debate, it seems that the alleged hypocrisy is simple to explain (Rafferty, 2001). Socrates chose to be a citizen of the city he lived in, and in doing so agreed to abide by the laws of the city, and whatever judgments the city made regarding him and his role in the city. "...Whoever of you stays here and sees the way that we reach judgment and otherwise manage the city, we say that he has already agreed with us in deed to do whatever we bid. And when he does not obey, we say that he does injustice in three ways: in that he does not obey us who begat him; nor us who nurtured him; and… READ MORE

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