Quite the stud.

For all his fancy language and cleverly annoying manipulation of arguments, Socrates has my full respect. His Defense of himself, (if this is possible..i'm sure it is) was rationally beautiful. He speaks with absolute humility: "I show myself not to be an accomplished speaker at all" (21, b); "I am very conscious that i am not wise at all" (24, b). He does this (i believe) to supplicate himself before the jury, admitting to them that he knows they are wise men and he won't even claim at reaching their level of wisdom. 

As his 'apology' continues though he becomes more argumentative (for lack of a better word): "'That man Socrates is a pestilential fellow who corrupts the young.' If one asks them what he does and what he teaches to corrupt them, they are silent, as the do not know..." He puts up a great defense, but sadly the city seemed set in their determination to kill him. The poor guy was a little shocked by how many stones were cast against him.

As wise and (i believe) right as Socrates was, he was still killed at the hands of seemingly intelligent, if not wise, men. Great men can be destroyed at the hands of good men acting in what they see as the 'greater good' I don't know what that really means...The greater good can be a very good thing, but so can men like Socrates. If nothing else i've seen the fragility of life (how odd to see that in Socrates/plato?) and the ambiguity of many real situations.  Thats what really caught me, though i side with Socrates on this, i can see where Athens is coming from, and the grey areas don't have a place here. I usually don't like gray, i like black or white, but maybe now i do...

another song: lyrics song/video - i promise this will be my last Bright Eyes song for a while.