Untitled Essay, Research Paper

By: Amydell M. Beardshall

Concept of ‘Good’ displayed by Socrates in ‘Apology’

‘Good’ is defined in Webster’s dictionary as “having desirable or favorable

qualities, or characteristics; morally excellent, better, best.” (Pg. 77)

All aforementioned attributes were displayed by Socrates in the last few

days before his death, in Crito, (Criton.) I will attempt to prove that goodness

was displayed by him in many different ways, while he was faced with evil

and an imminent demise. As well I will attempt to give my personal impressions

of ‘good’, and how it affects our society.

My first spontaneous impression of the meaning of ‘good’ is that it should

be thought of as highly moral and ethical. Good is found in many places that

people never care to look. Good is found in volunteering your time to needy

causes, unfortunate others, or in education. Unfortunately, most people are

too caught up in their own lives to take the time to find the ‘good’ in their

existence. Many people never take the time to ask themselves, “what have

I done for myself lately to better who I am as a person.?” Never thinking

to ask this question of themselves, leads them to ask others, “What have

you done for me to make me a happier person?” The problem with this circular

reasoning is that we train ourselves to believe that others owe us favors,

or owe us good times, good meals, good experiences. When in reality, if we

spent time on how we can make ourselves happy, and better find the good in

ourselves, we would be a much happier society. Our society suffers from a

lack of ‘good’ in their everyday lives. Every day when we open up newspapers,

or watch the news, we are slapped in the face by evil or wrong-doings. Hard

to find today are people who live their lives for the good of themselves

in hopes to better the lives of others. I find that I personally see the

most ‘good’ in doctors and professors or teachers, of all kinds, and social

workers. These professions tend to give to society for the goodness and hopes

of a educated, healthful life for the person they are helping, treating,

or teaching. Good is the person who can give of himself, without remorse

or dismay of the loss of their time or energy. Most of these people, if asked,

are happy with the knowledge and hope that they are doing ‘good’ for others.

Their happiness is derived from acts of kindness or in doing ‘good’ deeds.

The first significant appearance of ‘good’ shows up in the opening passages

of Crito. Socrates’ lifelong friend Criton is watching over him as he sleeps

in prison. He obviously has great sadness when he says to Socrates upon his

waking “I have come with news, my dear Socrates, painful news-not for you,

as it appears, but for me and all your friends painful and burdensome, and

I think I shall find it heavier than anyone else. ” ( PG.447) You can tell

from this passage that Criton is feeling pain at the imminent loss of his

friend. There is goodness in this type of hurt. It makes you realize how

much our friends mean to us. Criton’s feelings of disbelief in the lack of

emotion from Socrates are understandable. He has come to let Socrates know

that his death is imminent, and Socrates appears not to be perplexed, angry

or upset. Socrates’ feelings of ‘good-will’ are perpetuated when he attempts

to see the bright side of his death. He simply says “if that is God’s will,

so be it.” (Pg. 448) Criton’s emotion is very evident as he is Socrates’

best friend and will greatly miss his friend. Was Socrate’s “good attitude”

about his demise a product of his emotional state of being? His never-ending

feelings of ‘good-will’? Or was his physical environment so bad that he

determined in his own mind that there would be more solace, ‘good’, and rest

for his soul after his death? Socrates seems to find the good even in his

death.

More ‘good’ is personified when Socrates says “I wish only that many could

do the greatest mischief, so that they could also do the greatest good!”

(Pg. 449) Socrates is speaking out that the people need to break away from

the norm, and accepted rules, and this will force society to grow more tolerant

and diverse in their acceptance of people. As things are now, they are doing

things at random. This is a wonderful concept. He has spoken, and therefore

been imprisoned for it. He feels that if others begin to speak out that they

will in turn expand their minds and grow.

I seem to remember being much more trustful of people as a young child, living

in a small town, than my same-aged counterparts living in larger cities.

But I found the same ’speaking constraints’ that Socrates did in his city.

I was held to social status quo’s in hopes that I would not step outside

the boundaries of what was socially acceptable. I find now as an adult, looking

back on my childhood, I was ‘helped’ by my parents to see the world through

‘rose-colored-glasses’ (the ‘good’, not the ‘bad’) and I seem to remember

my parents being the same way. Living in the socially accepted realm of the

cities tolerances. It could be that my small town upbringing had many ‘good’

benefits for me, but I do not desire to ever have the influence of that type

of social setting ever again now. When I look at larger towns where there

seem to be more homeless, or jobless people, as well as higher crime rates,

I ask myself, “were these people robbed of ‘good’ values and morals when

they were bought up?” or, are they lucky that they didn’t have the constraints

of a ‘pre-fabbed’ life? Still, I digress, should I feel forever nieve in

believing that the town I grew up in was mostly for the ‘good of me?? Or

the worst of me?” I think that Socrates saw the ‘good’ in people, even at

his death. He saw glimpses of ‘good’ in the future, and good in his death.

If not for the worth of the cause he died for, his right to speak, but rather

for the good hopes for what would be for future generations to come.