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Back to Subjects - Philosophy

Define it for me

Define it for me In this class, Athens to New York, we students are asked to ponder four very thought provoking questions that force us to relate to our place in society. We were first asked, “What does it mean to be human?”. We then were questioned about, “What does it mean to be a member of the community?” and, “What does it mean to be moral, ethical, and just?” Next we were asked to go further and think about, “How do individuals and communities respond to differences of races, class, gender, ethnicity, etc.?” Then in reading the works of others like Plato’s “The Trail and Death of Socrates”, and Sophocles’ “Antigone”, we began to observe how Socrates and the characters in Antigone dealt with their place in society, and their humanity in a different society, ancient Greece. The days of ancient Greece was a time when few defied those that governed them, and those that did usually found a similar fate, execution. Socrates met this same fate after his trial that was documented by Plato. He was accused of corrupting the youth with his unconventional thoughts of the advancement of his society. A society, and life he had such a devotion for that he would have done anything. Socrates felt that his teachings were for the better of this community. Through his voice was how Socrates gave back to Athens all she had given to him, that was how felt he was being part of the community. Unfortunately Socrates refused to accept that he could not question those in a position of authority and he paid the price with his life. He willingly gave his life to the authorities and laws to which he has lived by all his life by. Even when Crito, a friend of Socrates, offered him a way out, an escape Socrates refused. Socrates did not believe in rebelling just to rebel, all his actions had a point. He refused escape in a disguise that would incur somehow that he believed that he was guilty, and he was running from this guilt. No he was innocent and in that court he held every argument he could to prove his innocence. He felt that if he could not persuade those in command that he did not deserve such punishment, than he would accept his fate as Athens had dealt it to him. He would not risk leaving his children, for he believed that Athens was the best place for them to live and would not take them with him in exile. He also would not let his friends risk the safety and security they had worked for, just so they could help him escape. Socrates stated that he knew his friends, “will themselves be in danger of exile, disfranchisement and loss of property,” and morally and ethically he could not let this happen. In the end it was a deep respect for the city that raised him and his execution was his final act of devoutness to his community. Socrates would rather die than be looked upon as “a destroyer of the laws,” and this is what it means to be a part of the community to risk even your life in order to remain loyal to what you believe in to better for the greater good. Despite the fact whether we believe how he acted was just or not, his strength in his beliefs to make the world a better place must be respected, after all what more can one person offer? While in Sophocles “Antigone”, the main character was a young girl that showed us how it is to be moral, ethical, and just. Antigone lost her whole family in war and one of her two brothers who died was accused of being a traitor. He was disgraced by the king, Creon, by having his body laid out to decompose in public view without having his last burial rights. Antigone was livid. She states that, “If I had allowed my own mother’s son to rot, an unburied corpse- that would have been an agony!” and knowing that her actions would lead to her eventual execution, in her own way she paid respect for her brother. Because she was a moral and just human being with a great love of family, Antigone had no choice, she accepted it as her fate. Her only surviving relative, her sister Ismene, accepted her sister’s rash behavior and passionate way. Ismene said, “Then go if you must, but rest assured, wild, irrational as you are, my sister, you are truly dear to the ones who love you.” Is this not what we all strive to achieve, the unconditional love of family? While Ismene understood her sister’s determination to honor her brother, and intern accept her fate, others were not so supportive. The character named Leader in the story states this about her, “Only a fool could be in love with death.” And though it seemed like this was the opinion of the majority, Antigone did not care. In her mind there was not a doubt that what she was doing had to be done. She had her belief and stood by it. It was not a question of being moral or just it was simply a conclusion of what was right. Creon, though appearing ruthless in his choice, can be respected for the same that was said for Socrates and Antigone. Creon stated, “Never at my hands will the traitor be honored above the patriot . But whoever proves his loyalty to the state- I’ll prize that man in death as well as life.” He had to hold such a belief in the highest esteem, and stand by it with a great deal of strength, after all how else could keep unity in his kingdom. Creon, as king, had the highest level of responsibility to the community. He intended to fulfill it, and he did - this is commitment and though by brutal means deserves respect.. Now the question that seems to encompass all four that were originally addressed is “what does it mean to be a human?”. What sets us as human beings apart from any and all of our animal relatives. How are was Antigone’s actions more morally evolved than the instinctual behavior of a mother bear protecting her cubs, or Creon’s fight against Antigone more civilized than a male lion fighting for dominance of a certain territory? The answer is simple, because we have an awareness of our surroundings, our community, we have an inborn desire to better our lives and environment, as Socrates illustrates for us again and again. We have a belief in a higher power, a devotion strong enough to evoke a responsibility to a being no one has ever seen. Most importantly what makes us human is that we have a mind that thinks of the complexities of the life and a heart that breathes in the love that those around us exhale. And though all the adventures of love and war, there is one thing that remains constant. Each human being defines morality, ethics, and being part of a community for his/herself. It is not, however, the one social definition, or each individual’s definition of these things that we should all be searching for in this world. We should instead be searching for the ability to accept many different translations, while still staying faithful to our own. Bibliography:

Word Count: 1304