The Philosophy Of Socrates And Dr. Martin Luther King

Imagine the feeling of sitting in room isolated from the rest of the world, left alone with your thoughts and kept guarded away from freedom. What would one with their spare time? Would one contemplate escape? Would one sit alone with their thoughts and fixate on what has led to such a lonely end? Would one compose a letter to those who detained them? Perhaps these are the same thoughts that inspired the words of Socrates, in Plato’s Crito or the emotional words that were spewed on paper by Dr. Martin Luther King while detained in Birmingham Jail. The philosophy of Socrates and Dr. Martin Luther King are grounded in peace. Both philosophers are faced with conflict from the laws put in place by the society that they are in. The purpose of this essay is to compare how each philosopher discusses the concept of law. The fictional tales of Socrates was inspiration to the belated Dr. King as he strived to challenge the status quo set for society. Throughout Plato’s poems Socr ates constantly stretched the mental capabilities of those who conversed, and at times even challenged him. Dr. King was not fearful of â€Å"Causing tension to the mind† of those around him. In particular Dr. King challenged his ideals of those who opposed his approach of nonviolent protesting. In â€Å"The letter from a Birmingham Jail† Dr. King response to a clergyman in form of a letter. This letter expresses the many obstacles put in front of Dr. King as he strives to create an equal society for African-American orShow MoreRelatedThe Great Thinkers Like Socrates And Martin Luther King1229 Words   |  5 Pagesthinkers like Socrates and Martin Luther King took themselves in a unique way of thinking in social changes and attempts to influence others. Martin Luther King is a theologian who used his enlighten powers to fight against inequality in the southern region of United States during 1960s. Dr. King Jr. is a good interpreter of Socrates because they both were a iming to help the society by making them knowledgeable about justice and social advancements. Socrates and martin Luther king were quiet similarRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr. Essay1553 Words   |  7 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. From the Apostle Paul to Martin Buber: Martin Luther Kings use of Historical and Religious Figures in his Letter From Birmingham Jail In his Letter From Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is addressing his fellow clergymen in response to their accusations of his unwise and untimely activities. Like most other reformers, he finds his greatest rationalization and defense from the word of God. Considering the religious affiliation of his audience, King appealsRead MoreFamous Thinkers: Immanuel Kant and Martin Luther King Jr.1282 Words   |  5 PagesFamous Thinkers: Immanuel Kant and Martin Luther King, Jr. Introduction Throughout history, across time and space, there have been many thinkers whose teachings and ideas have inspired significant changes in the world around them. From Socrates and Sir Isaac Newton to Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein, certain individuals throughout history have had both the brainpower and the motivation to essentially change the future, using their new ideas and beliefs to shape the worlds next generationsRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King874 Words   |  4 PagesDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. writes this letter as a response to the clergymen, who criticized and impeded the nonviolent campaign led by King in Birmingham. In his long letter, Marin Luther King presents a good deal of rational reasons for why the nonviolent campaign should be done in Southern America. He also demonstrates his unmovable determination to accomplish the goal of this nonviolent campaign. Obviously, King intends to awake the clergymen and other opponents by this touching letter. FromRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King1246 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom their place in history. Martin Luther brought important philosophical and moral concerns into the public arena. King belongs to a special of classes of activist philosophical whose philosophical and lives are inseparable because his chief concerns were social progress and improvement, Dr. King s powerful speaking skills combined with his courageous actions on behalf of racial justice, makes him a compelling exemplar of philosophical advocacy in action. Dr. King is widely regarded as AmericaRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King Jr. s Letter Of Burningham Jail1091 Words   |  5 PagesDr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter of Burningham jail mentions Socrates three times, giving the appearance that Socrates practiced civil disobedience directly and indirectly. However, King’s requirements for Civil disobedience are not met by Socrates s situation, illuminated by the Apology and the Crito. King and Socrates both ut ilized non-violent intellectual tension to enact change. Although Socrates uses the same force as King, his lack of guilt or an attempt to negotiate prevents him fromRead MoreWhat Makes A Breach Of Law An Act Of Civil Disobedience?1383 Words   |  6 PagesThoreau coined the phrase ‘civil disobedience’ for his refusal to pay poll taxes implemented by the United States government in order to fund the war on Mexico and the Fugitive Slave Law. Many others followed his philosophy like Gandhi during the independence movement in India, Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, and the resistance to apartheid in South Africa. Even to this day civil disobedience is still widely used in movements like the anti abortion demonstrations, the environmentalRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s 19841450 Words   |  6 PagesRELATED COVERAGE Professor Watchlist Is Seen as Threat to Academic Freedom NOV. 28, 2016 The Stone A forum for contemporary philosophers and other thinkers on issues both timely and timeless. The series moderator is Simon Critchley, who teaches philosophy at The New School for Social Research. Fake News and the Internet Shell Game NOV 28 At Standing Rock and Beyond, What Is to Be Done? NOV 25 There Is No Such Thing as ‘Nonconsensual Sex.’ It’s Violence. NOV 21 What’s the Use of Regret? NOV 12 Trump’sRead MoreMalcolm X : The Fight For Civil Rights2090 Words   |  9 Pageshearing this information Malcolm Little changed his name to Malcolm X and became a member of the Nation of Islam to follow Elijah Muhammad’s Philosophy.(Ladenburg.) While he was serving his time in prison, he spent his time developing as a person. He found his spirituality, but he also spent his time fully learning and understanding English and studying philosophy. He only had an 8th grade education and he wanted to learn how to develop his ideas like the philosophers he admired so he could turn hisRead MoreEssay on Know Thy Reader1370 Words   |  6 PagesDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail is a defense of the kind of non-violent direct action that King promoted and used during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. It is a response to statements of disapproval made by the clergymen of Birmingham, Alabama, and is obviously written in a way that appeals direc tly to this audience. King uses his knowledge of this audiences identity to design highly targeted arguments and to choose relevant historical examples for citation

True Hero free essay sample

As we begin our journey through the Iliad, Homer would have the audience see Achilles as a warrior, no doubt, but through to the end, Achilles has succumbed to his rage and proves to have lost his heroic status as Homer completes the Iliad. Achilles embodies and challenges both the Greek concept of arete or excellence as a warrior hero. The definition of arete is more specifically the idea of living up to one’s full potential or fulfilling their purpose or function in life (Arete). Achilles does hold many qualities that would deem him heroic such as incredible strength and a close relationship with the Greek gods. He proves himself to be the strongest and most powerful man in the Achaean army, but what he has in strength, he lacks in integrity, which is ultimately the cause of his perceived downfall as he instead becomes laden with pride and rage. Upon beginning the Iliad, within the first five pages, it is clear that Agamemnon has such a reverence for Achilles. He even goes so far as to refer to Achilles as â€Å"godlike,† conjuring an image of a man that seems impermeable as the gods were seen (Caldcleugh, 13). This paints Achilles in such a light that he does seem to be heroic, especially since Agamemnon does not show anything but respect towards Achilles. The mere idea of a king showing respect and awe to another man that is not of royal stature, but a man of battle, brings the audience to believe that Achilles is aligned with the ranks of heroes. As the Iliad continues, however, the impressive view the audience is given of Achilles slowly deteriorates throughout the poem. It is not until the end of the fourth book that Achilles makes a significant appearance as he is not fighting in the first battles, â€Å"but at his ship remains, / Nursing his wrath, and brooding o’er his wrongs† (Caldcleugh, 83). Simply put, Achilles is in his ship sulking instead of raising arms against the opposing side. This is just one example of how Achilles begins to peel away his heroic covering piece by piece. No hero should ever sulk in a corner over what was or was not done for him or to him, but instead should conquer the emotion and rise above the rest. Obviously, at this point, that was not the path for Achilles. This is further explored in book 9 as Agamemnon chooses to attempt to reconcile with Achilles by offering him many gifts. Nestor agrees that they are â€Å"splendid gifts† and encourages Agamemnon to pick someone to deliver the news to Achilles (Caldcleugh, 158). A little later on, Odysseus is chosen to deliver Agamemnon’s offer to Achilles and is hoping that Achilles will come around back to Agamemnon’s aid. He attempts to rub Achilles’ ego by saying â€Å"Achilles, health! Well have we feasted here, / Even as when we banquet with a king† in order to hopefully be in Achilles’ favor (Caldcleugh, 160). Odysseus goes on to tell Achilles that without his help, they will most likely lose the battle. Achilles responds in kind essentially saying that he will not accept Agamemnon’s offer because of the insult he felt he had received from Agamemnon. He rejected the offer claiming that he would just as well enjoy his father’s wealth instead of accepting Agamemnon’s offer (Caldcleugh, 164). It is also at this point that the audience is exposed to Achilles ultimate goal in life, which is an immortality of sorts, â€Å"That should I at the siege of Troy remain / Immortal glory will my portion be, / But never shall I see my home again† (Caldcleugh, 165). Despite his desire to have his name live on, at this point it seems that Achilles has chosen to leave the war because he believes that Troy will never be captured. Patroclus attempts to appeal to Achilles’ better nature by bringing back memories of Achilles as a child on Patroclus’ lap and reminding Achilles that he viewed him like a son (Caldcleugh, 166). Achilles responds to Patroclus’ appeal by saying that â€Å"Thou must not love him and incur my hate; / Thou should’st annoy him, as he me annoys† (Caldcleugh, 170). Clearly, Achilles is not only refusing of Agamemnon’s gifts, but it is out of spite that he refuses especially since he encourages Patroclus to not care for Agamemnon, but instead to â€Å"annoy† him (Caldcleugh, 170). Achilles’ stance towards Agamemnon further reduces his status as a hero because a hero does not look a gift horse in the mouth or attempt to retaliate against someone ho has done him wrong. A hero looks past all of the wrong simply to do what is right. Obviously, Achilles had the potential to be a hero, but due to his lacking in other areas, he could never really be a hero. Achilles losing his heroic status continues on through the eleventh book as Achilles believes that the Greeks will â€Å"kneel before me now, / To such a sad condition are they brought† ( Caldcleugh, 206). He believes that the Greeks shall bow before him because of their losing battle with Troy now that so many have died and been injured needlessly. It is important to understand that although many lay wounded or dying, this does not matter to Achilles, who is still â€Å"wrapped in hostile flame,† , rather regaining honor and status is more important to him (Caldcleugh, 207). According to Nestor, â€Å"Old Peleus his son Achilles urged, / In deeds of valor, always to be first, / and above all, to be pre-eminent† but unfortunately, Achilles has not followed this path, for this path would have been the way of a hero (Caldcleugh, 211). Achilles does not put virtue first, but rather himself instead. Patroclus realizes Achilles would rather put himself rather than the armies first, so in book sixteen, Patroclus wants to disguise himself in Achilles’ armor in order to intimidate the Trojans. Patroclus begins by telling Achilles of the â€Å"dreadful woe† that has befallen the Greeks (Caldcleugh, 286). He reminds Achilles that â€Å"Hard-hearted man! Peleus was not they sire, / Nor did the gentle Thetis bring thee forth, / The stormy ocean bore thee and the rocks, / So savage and so merciless thy heart† (Caldcleugh, 287). Within his appeal to Achilles, he is attempting to remind him of his roots coming from the honorable Peleus and compassionate Thetis, the sea-nymph. He is willing to respect Achilles’ wishes if he so chooses to not go into battle, but begs Achilles to send him in his armor â€Å"That so the Trojans, taking me for thee, / May from the field fall back, and thus our friends, / O’ercome with toil, may have a little rest: / For we are fresh, and can with ease repulse / Our worn out foes, and drive them to the town† (Caldcleugh, 287). Patroclus knew he would likely meet his demise on the battlefield, but his death meant little to him knowing that disguising himself in Achilles’ armor might cause a better outcome for his army. Patroclus was more of a hero than Achilles as can be seen by Patroclus willingly being self-sacrificial for the sake of his army. Achilles goes on to say that he is bitter at the way that Agamemnon has â€Å"deprived me of my just reward† which was a woman that Agamemnon took from him. He also appears to begin to regain heroic status when he states â€Å"let it pass; anger must end at last† and he recognizes that if the armies were to see him in his armor, the Trojans would have retreated, and so consents to Patroclus’ request (Caldcleugh, 288). Despite what appears to be a selfless act, he agrees to Patroclus’ request only because he has ulterior motives of receiving gifts and the woman that had been taken from him (Caldcleugh, 288). Unfortunately, Patroclus dies at the hands of the Trojans and a fight breaks out over his dead body. In book eighteen, Achilles learns of Patroclus’ death and he finally seems to truly recognize that â€Å"anger, which the wisest oft invades! / Like smoke it rises in the breasts of men, / sweeter than honey – bitter in the end† (Caldcleugh, 333). He has apparently let go of his anger towards Agamemnon and is now focused on Hector, the â€Å"slayer of my friend,† Patroclus (Caldcleugh, 333). This feeling of vengeance drives Achilles for the rest of the Iliad as can be seen by his saying â€Å"I must slaughter still these perjured men, / Nor cease ‘till, chased within their city walls, / Hector I meet, and trial make of him† (Caldcleugh, 376). He held true to this as he faced Hector in battle in book twenty-two as â€Å"Filled with fierce rage, Achilles too rushed on† to meet Hector head on (Caldcleugh, 394). Achilles was filled with bitterness or vengeance at any give time throughout the Iliad. Despite the way in which Achilles was admired as a warrior, it does not seem likely that Homer intended Achilles to be a hero at all. Yes, he was a warrior that was fearless, but he fought for the sake of himself and not for others. His major character flaw was that of his being self-centered. A true hero would never put himself above the needs of the rest, but in his case, the needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many.