Socrates versus Nelson Mandela Essay - 1723 Words

As an Athenian philosopher, Socrates spent his life in constant pursuit of insight. He loved engaging in conversations that helped him derive philosophical views on a number of different issues. The birth of ideas through critical reasoning can be credited back to his method of teaching, which is now known as the Socratic Method. Although widely respected today, many of his teachings were found controversial in Athenian times. Socrates was placed on trial and put to death soon after because of the disapproval of his ideas. Even with the anticipation of death linguring in his path, Socrates remained composed and curious. During his defense, he made it clear that death was nothing to fear, but rather an accepted inevitability of†¦show more content†¦Socrates, in skepticism, began a search for those with a reputation of wisdom. After studying men and their knowledge, he reasoned that the only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing. Although one may have extensive understanding in one area, there is way too much knowledge in the world to be contained by one man. Socrates stated, â€Å"I found that the men most in repute were all but the most foolish, and that some inferior men were really wiser and better† (Plato, 23). Those who believed that they knew it all could not be more ignorant, and those who admitted ignorance achieved the highest wisdom attainable on earth. Socrates accepted the idea that he, just like all men, contained very little or no wisdom at all. He was content with knowing this, and upon meeting others that lacked this philosophy, felt he was superior to them. He was unsure of the limitations the afterlife had on wisdom, but he was aware of it’s constraints on earth. This self awareness is what gifted him with the highest sense of enlightenment. With such a positive outlook on death, Socrates also developed a philosophy on suicide. When Cebes came to Socrates and suggested suicide, he protested the idea. Although he did accept that death in some cases may be better than life, he did not think that man was in the position to makeShow MoreRelatedA Critical Review of â€Å"the Ambiguities of Football, Politics, Culture, and Social Transformation in Latin America† by Tamir Bar-on.14147 Words   |  57 Pagesincompetency was deemed to be the reason for the football sides slide of losses and failure to reach the 1998 World Cup finals. 3.11 In diverse regions of the world, it is a political truism that football garners popular support. In 1996, Nelson Mandela was at the national stadium to celebrate the victory of the first, multi-racial South African side against Tunisia in the finals of the African Nations Cup. At the 1996 edition of the European Nations Championship in England, the anti-immigrantRead MoreVerbal and Nonverbal Communication11225 Words   |  45 Pagessymbol of water as a sign of life or purity, as in the ritual washing in religious ceremonies. Likewise, people sometimes serve as symbolic signs, such as Adolph Hitler being considered as a face of hatred, Mother Teresa as a face of compassion, or Nelson Mandela or Malcolm X as faces of human struggle for dignity. An index points to something beyond itself. It is an indicator, such as words like big and arrows. An index also is sometimes called a natural sign because the relationship between the wordRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesDeveloping subordinates Processing paperwork Planning and goal setting STUDY ⠝  RESPONDENTS †¢ FOCUS ⠝  Luthans, Rosenkrantz, and Hennessey (1985) †¢ 52 managers in 3 organizations †¢ Participant observation of skills demonstrated by most effective versus least effective managers ⠝  Curtis, Winsor, and Stephens (1989) †¢ 428 members of the American Society of Personnel Administrators in the United States †¢ (1) Skills needed to obtain employment †¢ (2) Skills important for successful job performance †¢