From: Veedma@aol.com Date sent: Sun, 2 May 1999 19:29:06 EDT Subject: Re: virus: Looking for blame in all the wrong places To: virus@lucifer.com Send reply to: virus@lucifer.com
> In a message dated 5/2/99 2:37:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time, carlw@hermit.net
> writes:
>
> > Socrates was offered the choice of exile or hemlock. He chose the poison.
> > Which factor do you think is most to blame for the Socratic tragedy?
> >
> > Radical Greek philosophical notions promoted extremist beliefs.
> > Violent arguments about the nature of society leads to more widespread
> > violence
> > His parents failed him by not taking responsibility for him.
> > Experimental theatre promoted anti-social behavior.
> > Poison was just to easy to find.
> >
> > No! No! No! A thousand times no! The reason we respect him today is that he
> > committed suicide because it was the only ethical protest he could make in
> a
> > society that forbade other forms of protest.
>
> >From what I have read, Socrates had recourse to public platform and
> opportunity for moral suasion during his defense and as I recall it was
> weak, suggesting as you and other scholars imply suicide was a deliberate
> choice. Are you also implying it was a political act? If so, was he a
> pacifist? It seems that in exile he would have had opportunity to act
> politically more effectively. If it was a matter strictly of ethics, right
> and wrong, his act was a surrender. It seems ironic that his pupils were able
> to use his methods to their own ends ( revolt and power being an extremee
> form of protest ) yet Socrates himself failed.
>
> I hope I have not infected anyone in this my first posting to this list.
>
> Irena
> >
>
Welcome Irena.