True story— when I was 17 my best friend died from bone cancer. He was 19 years old, and he had spent two semesters at college. He came home from school and started to work to save that money to work as a Mormon missionary. One day during that summer, he hurt his leg. When they went to look at it, they founded that his femur was broken. And it was broken because he had bone cancer. He had very good medical help and treatment and was surrounded by loving friends and family. He was able to say goodbye to them all during the nine months that remained of his life.
Let me just say that if there is a sign-up sheet going around for “Friend Dying from Bone Cancer,” I suggest that you not put your name on it. It sucks.
So here’s another way to look at our boy Socrates. Socrates didn’t write this stuff down. It was written down by Plato, one of Socrates’ students. Plato witnessed the trial and death of his friend. I don’t know at what point in his life Plato wrote down this description of the death of Socrates, but one way to read The Apology is as one man’s attempt to come to grips with the death of his friend.
Plato portrays Socrates as a man of integrity. He is also a man who talks a lot about death, even at the beginning of his trial. Socrates says that one should not make any decision based on the possible outcome. Socrates says that he did this as a soldier, choosing to obey the orders of his generals even if it meant risking his life. Did Socrates really say this at the trial? Or is this just something that Plato added later on? I’m not trying to say that Plato made this up, but it could be that what Plato is trying to come to grips with is how his friend could have died.
In fact, when we jump to the very end of the apology we see something very interesting. At the very bottom of the last complete page Socrates talks about a familiar Oracle. This familiar Oracle is a sort of spirit that constantly guides Socrates. At the top of the next page, the last complete page, he talks about how that spirit had not stopped him when he was coming to court that day. This is significant because Socrates says that that spirit had often stopped him at other times when he was about to make a mistake. Socrates then concludes that since the Spirit did not stop him, this might be taken as evidence that what is about to happen to him is not bad.
Socrates talks about two possible options for what death might be. Death could be some long beautiful sleep, or death could be the chance to travel to a place where other spirits dwell and to have a chance to converse with them in the same way that he has done throughout his life. Although Socrates doesn’t say for sure what the answer is, given that his familiar spirit didn’t stop him, he seems to be of the opinion that there’s good reason to suppose that whatever will happen to him after death will be good.
Did Socrates actually say this stuff? Actually, I don’t really care Socrates said the stuff or not. What I find more interesting is to think about this as one man, Plato’s, attempt to come to grips with the death of his friend. In Plato’s retelling, the friend suspects that he might die, and talks about acting with integrity even in the face of death. When he is tragically condemned, unjustly condemned according to the author, he then responds with typical courage, assuaging the fears of those around him that since his familiar spirit didn’t stop him death must be a good thing. As someone who experienced the death of someone close, I find it interesting to see how Plato deals with that difficult experience.
What do you see?
4 Comments
When I was 15, my best friend passed away in an ATV accident. This was one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with in my life. After her passing, I found myself writing about her a lot—this became my way to grieve. I also see this as Plato’s way of dealing with his friend’s death. Wanting to publicize his last moments were most likely not easy to do, but I am glad that he did. There is no way of knowing if Socrates really said all of this, but that is not the point. What is said in this is very important and shows a lot of insight. Socrates’ outlook on death is very positive, like you said, but I don’t see as much of a positive side to a long beautiful sleep. I would rather have the other option, but there is no way to know what happens after death just like there is no way to know what actually happened on this day.
I think it is reassuring to view death through the eyes of Socrates. Although nobody knows what happens when people die, it is comforting to think of your loved ones who have passed away as being in a better place where they can rest or converse with other spirits. I think that Plato was able to come to terms with the death of his friend, Socrates, by writing this piece about his trial and Socrates positive outlook on death.
I find it interesting that the Greek meaning of “apology” is much closer to “in defense of”, rather than “an expression of sorrow or sympathy”. As I read Socrates’ words, I have to say I believe Socrates might have been opposed to Plato’s “apology, or defense of his final words to his accusers. It is the unwavering fortitude and perspective that Socrates maintains until his execution that really drives his point home. He accepts his fate, saying that he would have expected a more decisive vote on the matter of his judgment. Socrates sees death as something not to be feared, and so he is fine with his sentence. He does not need anyone to defend him or to linger over his death. It may even detract from his final point that death is not to be feared, as we mortals do not even know for sure that death is a bad thing. And if any sort of man were to be allowed into the gates of heaven, in my opinion, Socrates would hit it off with Saint Peter.
Death is an extremely hard thing to come to grips with. I believe that from reading this apology its not easy to know one’s feelings. Everyone has the tendency to not share there deep-rooted feelings as a way to cope. In order to come to the terms with death its best to believe your loved one is in a better place so that you and the deceased can be at peace.