Platos The Apology Essay - 1530 Words

How you have felt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that their persuasive words almost made me forget who I was – such was the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth.† – Plato â€Å"The Apology† In â€Å"The Apology,† Socrates represents himself in his own trial. He boldly questions the morality of the people of court. In this report, I will be analyzing portions of â€Å"The Apology† in order to reveal the intellectuality of this text within this time frame. I will only discuss bits of â€Å"The Apologyâ€Å" on account that it is a lengthy piece. However, before discussing the speech it is important to set the scene. Socrates was born in 469 B.C.E. and lived to 399 B.C.E. (Nails, 2014).†¦show more content†¦Under this regime was Socrates sentenced to death. â€Å"The Apology† allows not only for us to conceptualize Socrates’ trail, but it also provides a glimpse of the way the government was set up in this time. In â€Å"The Apology,† Socrates is summoned to a trail based on accusations convicting him of impious beliefs and corrupting the youth. Socrates, first, addresses the charges of corrupting the youth. He begins by stating that Meletus could care less about matters concerning children. He, then, inquires if Meletus â€Å"†¦think[s] a great deal about the improvement of youth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lawall, 786). To this Meletus responds with an earnest answer. â€Å"Yes, I do† (p.786). Socrates responds with a sequence of questions regarding Meletus’s view of the â€Å"improver† of children. Meletus answers these questions with simple answers; he names the laws judges, senators, and â€Å"the members of the assembly.† (p. 786) To each of Meletus’s responses, Socrates has an anti thetical reply. Socrates generally refutes this charge by comparing the care of horses to the care of children. â€Å"Does one man do them [horses] harm and all the world good? Is not the exact opposite the truth?† (786). He goes on to say that the world would be a much better place if all but one person were virtuous. He, then, asks if it is better to live among the good or the bad. Meletus agrees that it is better to live among the good (786). Socrates asks if his corruption of the children is intentional or unintentionalShow MoreRelatedPlatos The Apology659 Words   |  3 Pages Platos The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial where he is charged for various reasons; not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates did not win over the jury pleading his case, and was therefore sentenced to execution. It can be said that Plato’s Apology of Sokrates, although an unsuccessful attempt at defending Socrates on the charges of corruption the youth of Athens, is a successful defenseRead MorePlatos The Apology792 Words   |  3 PagesPlato’s The Apology is the speech that Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, creating new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Even though the title of Socrates’ speech is The Apology, it is not an apology for his actions, but rather he attempts to defend himself and his conduct. The apology has made me reflect on whether a person should focus on i mproving himself or herself, or should they focus on improving other peopleRead MoreEssay on Platos Apology932 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Apology At the elderly age of seventy, Socrates found himself fighting against an indictment of impiety. He was unsuccessful at trial in the year 399 B.C. The charges were corrupting the youth of Athens, not believing in the traditional gods in whom the city believed, and finally, that he believed in other new divinities. In Platos Apology, Socrates defends himself against these charges. He claims that the jurors opinions are biased because they had probably all seen AristophanesRead More Platos Apology Essay1086 Words   |  5 PagesPlatos Apology Plato’s Apology is the story of the trial of Socrates, the charges brought against him and his maintaining of his own innocence throughout the process. At the onset of the trial, Socrates appears to challenging the charges, which included corrupting the youth, challenging belief in the gods that were accepted and reveled by the State, and introducing a new religious focus, but also belittles his own significance and suggesting that he will not attempt to disprove thatRead MorePlatos Apology And Crito1036 Words   |  5 PagesIn Plato’s â€Å"Apology† and â€Å"Crito†, I believe Socrates’ philosophy of not doing harmful things on purpose, because of ignorance, or the act of doing it unwillingly, is false. First I will show you some contradictions introduced in the books of the Apology, and Crito and explain them. Next, I will explain how in the present day Socrates philosophy is false due to the vices of mankind, with evidence from the Apol ogy, then I will show you how Socrates might argue his point and a counter argument in presentRead MorePlatos The Republic and The Apology1714 Words   |  7 Pages In Plato’s The Republic and The Apology, the topic of justice is examined from multiple angles in an attempt to discover what justice is, as well as why living a just life is desirable. Plato, writing through Socrates, identifies in The Republic what he thought justice was through the creation of an ideal city and an ideal soul. Both the ideal city and the ideal soul have three components which, when all are acting harmoniously, create what Socrates considers to be justice. Before he outlines thisRead More Platos Apology Essay794 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s Apology In the retelling of his trial by his associate, Plato, entitled â€Å"The Apology†; Socrates claims in his defense that he only wishes to do good for the polis. I believe that Socrates was innocent of the accusations that were made against him, but he possessed contempt for the court and displayed that in his conceitedness and these actions led to his death. In his defense, Socrates claims over and again that he is innocent and is not at all wise, â€Å"†¦for I know that I haveRead MorePlatos The Apology : The Meaning Of Life759 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s â€Å"The Apology† takes places in Athens in 399 BC. Socrates, a natural philosopher, is put on trial and accused of failing to recognize the god of Athens, creating new deities, and corrupting the minds of the city youth. The Athenians, Anytus, Meletus, and Lycon fear that Socrates’ teachings lack respect for the legal customs and religious beliefs established in the city and could create a damaging effect on Athens’ community (Dan I.(n.d.). In this piece, Plato writes an account of Socrates’Read MorePlatos Apology And Crito Analysis1873 Words   |  8 PagesTensions between moral philosopher and the faithful citizen of the polis are highlighted in Plato’s Apology and Crito. In the Apology, Socrates is faced with a death sentence at t he hands of the state, but ironically is unapologetic in his discourse while defending himself. The Crito, however, displays Socrates in a dialogue where he chooses to engage and characterize the laws as a means of arguing for his faithfulness to the decision of the polis. Indeed, he uses the laws as a rhetorical deviceRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Tragedy Of Platos Apology1068 Words   |  5 Pagesdisplayed the proper elements of adversity within the â€Å"Apology† and detailed the unfairness the democratic society of Athens presents by punishing an opposing, equally justified force. Socrates preforms his defence arrogantly and sarcastically in the courtroom of Athens, humouring his own trial where he faced a grave fate. Socrates would not accept a verdict of guilty, therefore would not accept any other punishment than freedom. Platos Apology depicts the dramatically tragic death of philosopher

The Addiction Should Be Defined - 1407 Words

First, addiction should be defined. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, addiction is defined as, â€Å"The state or condition of being dedicated or devoted to a thing, esp. an activity or occupation; adherence or attachment, esp. of an immoderate or compulsive kind.† Now with this definition, it seems like people can be addicted to just about anything. That being said, there are two main types of addictions; behavioral and substance. Behavioral addiction is defined by the American Addiction Centers as â€Å"The compulsion to continually engage in an activity or behavior despite the negative impact on the person’s ability to remain mentally and/or physically healthy and functional in the home and community.† Simply put, people with behavioral†¦show more content†¦As defined by the English Oxford Dictionary, a disease is â€Å"a disorder of structure or function...that produces specific symptoms.† When an individual develops an addiction, pe ople often face changes both in their brain structure and function. In order to determine whether or not addiction is a brain disease, the brain of addicts must be looked at. Most addictions, both behavioral and substance, deal with the regions of the brain that are associated with dopamine release. Dopamine works in a small area of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens. The nucleus accumbens is also central for attention and habit formation. When functioning normally, the brain rewards us for normal activities such as eating. Dopamine levels when eating are measured and released slowly. However, certain activities and drugs cause the dopamine to be released at a far more rapid rate. This causes what is known as the state of being high. As an addict continues to abuse the drug or activity, the brain reduces the number of dopamine receptors. This causes the person to experience what is known as a crash when the effects begin to die down. This crash can lead to the addict feeling lethargic and depressed. In order to avoid this crash, addicts will continue to use the drug to stay high. However, the longer the person is using the drug or activity, the harder it will become to achieve the level of high they are looking for. This can lead to addicts upping their dosage or evenShow MoreRelatedA New Paradigm Substance Use Disorder Treatment1656 Words   |  7 PagesRemission a new paradigm in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Addiction treatment is a complex and paradoxical issue. Despite the fact that most of the medical and academic institutions define addiction as a chronic brain disease, it is too often treated on an acute basis. Chronic conditions are defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as requiring ongoing management over a period of years or decades and cover a wide range of health problems. The goals of chronic care are not to cure, but toRead MoreInternet Addiction, Excessive Usage, And Gratification1419 Words   |  6 PagesNisaa Kirtman PSY 7102, Week 4 Internet addiction, excessive usage, and gratification: A review of two articles The growth of the internet and internet-dependency has become some of the many facets in people?s day-to-day lives. Smartphones, radio, the television, newspapers, and magazines are flooded with news and non-stop information that some may not classify as ?news? (e.g., celebrity gossip, etc.). It seems that the prevalence of the internet are indicators of a nation, communities, organizationsRead MoreNew Insurance Site : Drug Rehabs856 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstand your in-network insurance benefits. Typically, you re going to want to stay in your network when at all possible when getting drug rehab. The following information will help you understand in-network insurance, how coverage networks are defined, and why staying in-network is a good idea. Understanding An In-Network Insurance Company In-network insurance is that which works within a specific group and offers services at pre-negotiated rates. Typically, PPO, POS and HMO plans fall within theRead MoreThe Addiction Epidemic Of Substance Abuse Essay1699 Words   |  7 PagesThe Addiction Epidemic The use of substances for physical, mind and social advantage has been around since the beginning of documented history. Contemporary use of prescription medication for these advantages has led to a national epidemic of substance abuse. Health care providers need to recognize the disease process of addiction in order to effectively combat the growing epidemic of substance use disorders (SUD). Strategies to decrease the prevalence and incidence of SUD include defining addictionRead MoreDefining Addiction Essay579 Words   |  3 PagesThis essay will examine how Addiction is defined, and why or if it is recognized as a disease. Reports and critiques of addiction will be examined and from these this essay will endeavour to look at both sides of the findings. The definition from the Oxford dictionary describes addiction as a condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something. Addiction itself can be defined as unmanageable, compulsive and an act that is carried out even when it threatens theirRead MoreThe Long Lasting Effect of Alcohol on The Brain1208 Words   |  5 Pagesin the United States, and many debate whether alcoholism is a disease or choice. Accordingly, based on scientific evidence, alcoholism is a disease because it has major long-term effects on the brain, it is an addiction, and it is treated medically. The first major reason alcoholism should be considered disease is the long-lasting effects it has on the brain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently conducted a study that shows how the brain is affected after chronic alcohol use. They concludedRead More Understanding Addiction Essay1055 Words   |  5 Pages Addiction is regarded by most as a social problem to be solved with social solutions, i.e. incarceration. But, scientific evidence argues otherwise: addiction is a brain disease. â€Å"The World Health Organization has defined addiction as ‘A state, psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting in the interaction between a living organism and a drug, characterized by behavioral and other responses that always include a compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experienceRead MoreSex Addiction856 Words   |  4 Pagesof Hypersexual Disorder and Sex Addiction J. K. Harville Thoughts on the reality of Hypersexual Disorder and Sex Addiction We often hear about addictions and the problems they cause in the news and portrayed in Movies and television. We hear about an alcoholic, a drug addict, or a compulsive gambler and how their addictions destroy their lives and that of their families. An addiction we don’t often hear about or see glorified on television is an addiction to Biology’s most base instinct;Read MoreAddiction Treatment Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesAddiction Treatment You crave it, you want it and you just can not stop thinking about it or, you just can’t stop doing it, they call it addiction. â€Å"Addiction is a chronic, but treatable, brain disorder. People who are addicted cannot control their need for alcohol or other drugs, even in the face of negative health, social or legal consequences. This lack of control is the result of alcohol- or drug-induced changes in the brain. Those changes, in turn, cause behavior changes† (What is Addiction)Read MoreThe Role Of A Chemical Dependency Counselor1139 Words   |  5 Pagesextremely rewarding one. There are many skills and qualities that the successful counselor possesses. Carl Rogers was the first to spearhead the movement of person centered therapy and he has provided a very influential theory on how a person in treatment should be treated. He deemed these to be the most important elements in the therapeutic movement: unconditional positive regard- helps makes change happen be cause they feel safe and cared about, accurate empathy- it is an understanding of what they are going

Theory of Knowledge Full Essay- Language and Vocabulary Free Essays

Q: The vocabulary we have does more than communicate our knowledge; it shapes what we can know. Evaluate this claim with reference to different areas of knowledge. According to the Sapir-Whorf Theory, language is not merely a reproducing instrument for voicing ideas but rather is the shaper of ideas. We will write a custom essay sample on Theory of Knowledge Full Essay- Language and Vocabulary or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Sapir-Whorf Thesis states that language controls what we think and determines and limits our thoughts. Many language experts identify with the Sapir-Whorf Theory and among these is Wittgenstein, who once said, â€Å"the limits of my language are the limits of my world†. Thus, many believe that the vocabulary we have does more than communicate our knowledge and rather, it shapes what we can know. However, to what extent can this statement be said to be true? Is vocabulary really the only way to communicate our knowledge? What else can vocabulary do besides communicate knowledge? Do you need to be able to communicate your knowledge to show your knowledge? Is our knowledge only gained through language and vocabulary? Lastly, if vocabulary â€Å"shapes† what we can know, can we say that knowing more languages will gain us access to more knowledge? First of all, vocabulary refers to the body of words that are used in a particular language, such as the very words I am using to write this essay. Without vocabulary, there are no words and as a result, language is also non-existent. Imagine a life without words; we cannot describe or speak out the ideas in our mind, we cannot ask questions, or communicate with one another. In fact, even when we think in our mind, it involves the use of words. Does that mean that without words we would not have thoughts? Without vocabulary and language, we would not know most of the current knowledge that we do today. Think about the knowledge that we currently possess; many of us would agree that most of the knowledge that we currently have and understand is learnt through school, books and education— but how could we have possibly grasped all the physics theories, math formulas and others that we’ve learnt without the use of vocabulary or words? How would the teachers teach in a world where language is non-existent? Books would just be a fictitious myth if language does not exist. How could we expand our knowledge capabilities through reading if books do not exist? Thus, in a way vocabulary shapes what we can know because without vocabulary, we cannot communicate with one another and thus, knowledge cannot be passed down or shared. As a result, the knowledge we know will be limited to only what we experience or discover by ourselves. However, we would not have the ability to have knowledge about other people’s experiences or way of life and culture. For example, the Aloe Vera plant originated from Northern India and is now regarded highly for its healing and rejuvenating properties. Its antiquity was first discovered in 1862 in an Egyptian papyrus dated 1550 BC. Thus, the healing power of Aloe Vera was first discovered by ancient Egyptians, who decided to note this down on a piece of papyrus. If language had not existed and the ancient Egyptians during that time had decided not to write down the healing properties of Aloe Vera, that sliver of knowledge would not be passed down and shared among us and we would not know what we know today. We would not be able to benefit from the natural therapeutic quality of Aloe Vera. Therefore, in this example, language and vocabulary has shown to be a powerful tool for communicating knowledge. In a way, vocabulary does shape what we can know but to what extent is this true? Can vocabulary be said to be the crux of knowledge? Is vocabulary really the only method to communicate and share knowledge? Although vocabulary can be said to make up a large part of our understanding and our knowledge, it is not the only way that we can learn and gain knowledge. Another way would be through our own life experiences. For example, when we touch a hot cup of coffee and scald our skin, we learn from our own experience to be careful of touching hot surfaces as it can harm us. In this manner, we have learnt or acquired new knowledge without the use of vocabulary or communication but rather through our own experience. Our nervous system has sent a signal to our brain. Vocabulary is also not the only way for us to communicate our knowledge. Another method would be through the use of body language, facial expressions or hand signals. For example, traffic officers mainly rely on hand signals to direct the traffic at a particular junction or intersection. Through the use of body language, the traffic officer is able to communicate their knowledge to the drivers bout whether they should stop or go. In this example, knowledge is being passed on without the use of language. Similarly, by looking at a person’s facial expression or body language, we can know how they are feeling (e. g. sad, happy, angry). Furthermore, thinking does not have to always involve words. We can think in other ways such as through images. It is important to understand that to be abl e to communicate our knowledge through the use of vocabulary and language, we first have to be able to put that certain piece of knowledge into words. At age 6, my mom used to test me on my vocabulary and would ask me the definition of words. Oftentimes, I would reply her saying â€Å"I know what the word means but I just can’t explain it! † My mom would then answer, â€Å"If you can’t explain it then that means you don’t really understand it! † I would protest and tell her that I do understand but that it was just difficult to put into words. Thus, this led me to ask myself a question; do we need to be able to explain something with words to understand the concept of it? 6 year old me would beg to differ. However, I believe that even if we can’t explain things in words, it doesn’t mean that we don’t understand it. Has your friend ever tried telling you a personal problem but he says that he can’t really put how he feels into words and you replied saying â€Å"I know exactly what you mean and how you feel†? Most of the time, this happens when we have gone through the same experience and thus, we can relate to them and recall how they feel. Art is another way to communicate knowledge without the use of vocabulary. For example, using graphics or art. As Napolean Bonaparte once said, â€Å"a picture tells a thousand words†. Similarly, an artwork can communicate knowledge to us. For example, the artist Chris Jordan, turns statistics into art. One of his pieces features a picture of 2 million plastic cups stacked up above each other, which is the number of cups we use every 5 minutes. It is much more impactful to visually see the numbers than to hear the numbers. A simple picture with no words was able to relay knowledge to us and raise our awareness. Thus, even though language does restrict the knowledge that we can know, there are still other ways to interpret knowledge. Another area of knowledge we can look at is mathematics. In mathematics, language is not used to communicate knowledge, but rather, the use of numbers. Numbers are a universal language that the world can understand. 2+2 will always equal to 4, regardless of your nationality or what language you speak. Therefore, we can say that in math, language and vocabulary is not very significant. According to the statement in the question, vocabulary is said to do more than just â€Å"communicate knowledge, it shapes what we can know†. If this is true, does that mean that knowing more languages will gain us more access to knowledge? As Federccopellini once said, â€Å"a different language is a different vision of life†. Federccopellini believed that language is a way of life and the more languages you know and understand, then, the more access to knowledge that you possess. To a certain extent, this statement can be said to be true. For example, there is a word in Bahasa Indonesia known as lidah buaya. The direct translation of lidah is tongue while buaya means crocodile in English. Together it means crocodile tongue. However, people who speak Bahasa Indonesia know that lidah buaya doesn’t literally mean crocodile tongue. In fact, it is actually the name given to the Aloe Vera plant in Bahasa Indonesia! Hence, to a certain extent, it can be said to be true that knowing more languages will allow us to possess more knowledge, as we would be exposed to different cultures, which would help us to understand their way of life. However, it is also important to note that the meaning of words otherwise known as semantics, have a propensity to change and evolve over time. For example, in the past, the definition of the word â€Å"gay† meant â€Å"carefree† and â€Å"cheerful†. However, in modern times, the word â€Å"gay† is used to describe someone that is homosexual. In this example, we can see how words can change its meaning over time. Thus, if the meanings of words vary over time, how true can it be said that language is a reliable method to communicate knowledge? Furthermore, oftentimes, words are made up to explain or describe a complex set of behaviours that in truth, nobody has really observed or seen. This is known as occult quantity. For example, in the sciences such as physics, the term â€Å"electronic field† is used to define a region around a charged particle or object within which a force would be exerted on other charged particles or objects. However, we can never really prove whether electronic fields exist because we cannot actually see the field with our own eyes. The existence of electronic fields is only â€Å"proven† when physicians make assumptions based on the observations and results of an experiment. However, how do we know that the experiment results aren’t just an effect of some other unknown cause that we have yet to discover? Occult quantity leads to doubts about the knowledge surrounding a term or a word. Thus, this shows how words can be misleading or tell us false information that we will believe due to the â€Å"research† thought to have been carried out. Can these made-up terms or words be included in our vocabulary when they are not proven? How can these made-up terms or words communicate true knowledge? In conclusion, I believe that vocabulary is a crucial part of acquiring and communicating knowledge and to a certain extent it does â€Å"shape† what we can know. However, vocabulary is not the only way to acquire or communicate knowledge as shown from the examples above. (1794 words) ——————————————– [ 1 ]. http://www. ted. com/talks/chris_jordan_pictures_some_shocking_stats. html [ 2 ]. http://www. ted. com/speakers/chris_jordan. html [ 3 ]. (http://east. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/electric%20field) How to cite Theory of Knowledge Full Essay- Language and Vocabulary, Essay examples