Response and Opinion Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response and Opinion Paper - Essay Example Apology, the dialogue reveals the tension that persisted between citizens in society, who discovered the tyrannical government and its regressive tendencies. Religion was employed to pacify the masses to follow particular norms and traditions that defined morality, but Socrates in his defense criticizes its exploitation and misuse of authority. For instance, he mocks the jury when he requests free meals for the rest of his life to be his sentence, but is later sentenced to death. Socrates dislike and disregard for the political system is extended in his third dialogue Crito where he decides to remain after the jury sentences him to death when found guilty. Even though, his second text Apology neglects his accusers, the system almost reigns supreme when he complies with the unjust laws of Athens and waits for his execution. I believe Socrates did not loathe interplay between religion and politics, but despised the manner rulers wielded power and influence over the masses. Finally, his last dialogue, Meno takes a sudden twist when though Socrates appeared to have lost the battle of justice, his dislike for the political system is seen when he decided to self-administer his death. He remained unconvinced by the jury’s verdict and considered his fate not in their hands. The dialogue is full of debate between Immortality and soul and subtly implies the inevitability of the continued existence of the soul. It is apparent battles characterize the history of philosophy, especially between camps debating major issues about human existence. One major debate is the source of knowledge and this argument pits rationalists against empiricists. Even though, rationalists claim the starting point of human knowledge is reasoning, I believe the beginning of human knowledge is sense experience (Carrutheras 123). It is the human senses that provide us with the original data concerning events in the world. Without the raw data obtained through sense experience, then knowledge