What we know about Socrates is all legends, but according to the descriptions of predecessors, we still have a general understanding of him. The main facts of Socrates' trial are beyond doubt. The charges on which the verdict is based are: Socrates is an evil eccentric who spies on things in the sky and underground; Say bad is good, and teach them all to others. "The real reason for hating him-almost certainly-is that people think he colludes with optimates; Most of his students belong to optimates, and several students in power have proved to be extremely harmful.
Socrates said: "Political honest people don't live long." He cited two examples of his inevitable involvement in public affairs: the first time he rebelled against democracy; The second time was against the thirty tyrants, and the behavior of those in power was illegal. He pointed out that many people present were his former students and their fathers and brothers, and it was impossible to mention in the indictment that any of them could witness him corrupting the youth. "(Russell's History of Western Philosophy)
Democracy in ancient Greece is different from democracy in the modern world. In modern democratic politics, on the one hand, individuals are subordinate to groups, but on the other hand, they enjoy independence and freedom as individuals. But in ancient Greece, the individual was completely subordinate to the group, and he did not have the freedom to leave the group. Aristotle believes that individuals only belong to the city-state (that is, the group) to have the meaning of existence, and individuals who do not belong to the city-state are either ghosts or beasts.
The will and interests of the group are above everything else, so the interests and rights of the individual can be sacrificed. A unique law in Athens can best illustrate this point. According to the law, the Athenians can exile a political leader every year, who is elected by referendum. Because broken pottery pieces were used as tickets, it was named "pottery piece exile method" When you vote, just carve your name on the pottery. No fault, no crime, as long as you get more than 6 thousand votes, you will be exiled.
From the perspective of modern people, this is purely an infringement of individual freedom and rights. But in Athens, some of the most famous politicians, such as Dimitri stokely, are in exile. In other words, in ancient Greece, individuals did not have freedom in the modern sense. There is neither freedom to leave the group nor freedom of speech. In a sense, the Athenians had political rights, but no personal freedom. Socrates' remarks clearly show his contempt for the group of "people" and want to keep a distance from it. At the same time, in the eyes of the "people", his words and deeds have actually caused some harm, because his disciples participated in activities to overthrow democratic politics. His execution was actually reasonable. Modern people are used to using modern democracy to measure the democratic politics of ancient Greece, so Socrates' death has become an inextricable knot.
Socrates once said: "Athens is like a slow horse, and I am a cow and fly that keeps biting it to make it energetic." It is his character that makes him a fighter to spread ideas. By discussing with others, he pretended not to understand at first, and after discussion, let the people he talked with understand his shortcomings and deficiencies. This Socratic satire made many wise men make a fool of themselves in public. They regarded Socrates as a thorn in the side, and most of them were influential figures at that time. Socrates kept biting his compatriots like a gadfly, because something inside him forced him to do so. He always said that he had "God's guidance" in his heart, which happened to be the fatal handle of his opponent. His opponents accused him of slowing down the gods, creating new gods and corrupting the youth. Results In a court composed of 50 1 person, he was convicted by 28 1 vote against 220, and ended his life with poisoned wine.
Athenian democracy is the starting point of modern western democracy. There is no doubt that democracy in Athens has also brought prosperity to Athens, from which many sciences and civilizations have developed. But immature democracy also destroyed Athens.
Pericles gave a clear definition of democracy in his famous speech at the public burial ceremony of fallen soldiers: "Our system is called democratic politics, which is a fact, because the political power is not in the hands of a few people. But in the hands of most people. " This is the most famous concept of democracy in Athens: the principle that the minority obeys the majority, which in itself embodies the essence of democracy. Athenian democracy ensured citizens' active freedom to participate in political life, but deprived them of their negative freedom to have private space without state intervention. So there is actually no personal freedom of speech in Athens. Socrates refused to give up his position and was unwilling to give in. "Knowing that he was in great danger, he didn't want to cry, say many poor things and do many poor things." In 399, the philosopher Socrates was sentenced to death by the people's court in Athens. During their imprisonment, the disciples took turns to visit the prison and spend their last days with the teacher. As a result, there were several famous dialogues in which Plato recorded Sue's remarks in prison. About a month later, the 70-year-old philosopher sent his wife and children away, drank the poisonous fish in front of his disciples and died peacefully.
What we know about Socrates is all legends, but according to the descriptions of predecessors, we still have a general understanding of him. The main facts of Socrates' trial are beyond doubt. The verdict is based on the following charges: Socrates is an evil man, a strange man, who spies on things in the sky and underground; Say bad is good, and teach them all to others. "The real reason for hating him-almost certainly-is that people think he colludes with optimates; Most of his students belong to optimates, and several students in power have proved to be extremely harmful.
Socrates said: "Political honest people don't live long." He cited two examples of his inevitable involvement in public affairs: the first time he rebelled against democracy; The second time was against the thirty tyrants, and the behavior of those in power was illegal. He pointed out that many people present were his former students and their fathers and brothers, and it was impossible to mention in the indictment that any of them could witness him corrupting the youth. "(Russell's History of Western Philosophy)
Democracy in ancient Greece is different from democracy in the modern world. In modern democratic politics, on the one hand, individuals are subordinate to groups, but on the other hand, they enjoy independence and freedom as individuals. But in ancient Greece, the individual was completely subordinate to the group, and he did not have the freedom to leave the group. Aristotle believes that individuals only belong to the city-state (that is, the group) to have the meaning of existence, and individuals who do not belong to the city-state are either ghosts or beasts.
The will and interests of the group are above everything else, so the interests and rights of the individual can be sacrificed. A unique law in Athens can best illustrate this point. According to the law, the Athenians can exile a political leader every year, who is elected by referendum. Because broken pottery pieces were used as tickets, it was named "pottery piece exile method" When you vote, just carve your name on the pottery. No fault, no crime, as long as you get more than 6 thousand votes, you will be exiled.
From the perspective of modern people, this is purely an infringement of individual freedom and rights. But in Athens, some of the most famous politicians, such as Dimitri stokely, are in exile. In other words, in ancient Greece, individuals did not have freedom in the modern sense. There is neither freedom to leave the group nor freedom of speech. In a sense, the Athenians had political rights, but no personal freedom. Socrates' remarks clearly show his contempt for the group of "people" and want to keep a distance from it. At the same time, in the eyes of the "people", his words and deeds have actually caused some harm, because his disciples participated in activities to overthrow democratic politics. His execution was actually reasonable. Modern people are used to using modern democracy to measure the democratic politics of ancient Greece, so Socrates' death has become an inextricable knot.
Socrates once said: "Athens is like a slow horse, and I am a cow and fly that keeps biting it to make it energetic." It is his character that makes him a fighter to spread ideas. By discussing with others, he pretended not to understand at first, and after discussion, let the people he talked with understand his shortcomings and deficiencies. This Socratic satire made many wise men make a fool of themselves in public. They regarded Socrates as a thorn in the side, and most of them were influential figures at that time. Socrates kept biting his compatriots like a gadfly, because something inside him forced him to do so. He always said that he had "God's guidance" in his heart, which happened to be the fatal handle of his opponent. His opponents accused him of slowing down the gods, creating new gods and corrupting the youth. Results In a court composed of 50 1 person, he was convicted by 28 1 vote against 220, and ended his life with poisoned wine.
Athenian democracy is the starting point of modern western democracy. There is no doubt that democracy in Athens has also brought prosperity to Athens, from which many sciences and civilizations have developed. But immature democracy also destroyed Athens.
Pericles gave a clear definition of democracy in his famous speech at the public burial ceremony of fallen soldiers: "Our system is called democratic politics, which is a fact, because the political power is not in the hands of a few people. But in the hands of most people. " This is the most famous concept of democracy in Athens: the principle that the minority obeys the majority, which in itself embodies the essence of democracy. Athenian democracy ensured citizens' active freedom to participate in political life, but deprived them of their negative freedom to have private space without state intervention. So there is actually no personal freedom of speech in Athens. Socrates refused to give up his position and was unwilling to give in. "Knowing that he was in great danger, he didn't want to cry, say many poor things and do many poor things."