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How To Pursuit Life

How to Pursuit Life



"Philosophical thought attributes importance to an intermediary or mediating spirit when it comes to transcending ordinary human consciousness. Socrates refers to his daimonion when he testifies in the Apology. Aristotle incorporates a similar guide to his idea of eudaimonia/the good life. Finally, the stoics, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius both speak of a ruling principle or hegemonikon as responsible for guidance in the soul."

The "Apology" contain three speeches: defense, penalty, and after the trial. The second speech of Apology deals with Socrates penalty, Socrates respond to the given penalty by proposing an alternative one, and the jury had to choose between the two. The penalty that was suggested by Meletus was the death penalty. Socrates suggested that he, with the help of his wealthy friends, would pay a fine. He will also be treated as an Olympic hero. From Socrates suggestions we understand that he is actually mucking the jury by suggesting ideas that obviously won't be accepted.

One of the most important terms in the Apology is the term "Excellence". This term is an alternative term for the Greek term "Arete". Arete means the Aim, target the path of life. What you are supposed to do. By "pursuit of excellence" Socrates means that a parson should look for his place in society and in life. Finding his/her excellence will bring him/her health, wealth and happiness. Pursuing wealth and happiness thinking that those will lead one to his/her excellence is wrong. Socrates gives an example of people that are in pursuit of wisdom. He says that in his investigation he found that the people, who looked for knowledge as a main target, (as if it has an intrinsic value), were less intelligent then the common people. "Man whose reputation for wisdom stood highest were nearly the most lacking in it, while others who were looked down on as common people were much more intelligent."Socrates, target in life was to question...