Socrates

Socrates and the Afterlife

Megan Schraufnagel

PHI/105

November, 22 2015

James Boen

Socrates and the Afterlife

I choose option 1 which is all about Socrates and his views of death and the afterlife.

Socrates did not fear death because he believes that our souls are immortal. The fact that if we live on past our deaths then there is no reason for anyone to fear death and this included Socrates. I do think that in everyone’s last moments of being on this earth, that there is fear, fear of the unknown. When my father was close to passing, I remember him saying that he had “made his peace with God.” Then I continued to ask him if he was scared, he told me “of course I am scared, I am scared of what will happen to you and everyone else, and that if I would be ok.” What if you go your whole life thinking a specific thing happens when you die and then you pass and it is completely inaccurate? So, I understand his belief to a certain extent, it is completely natural to have some sort of fear at the end of your life. I feel that the fear is more for your loved ones and how they will react, nobody wants anyone to be in grief or sad because of them.

Socrates views on death and the afterlife come from the fact that the soul does exist, in my opinion and Socrates as well. Life is the opposite of death (clearly) and opposites come from opposites. Light and dark, good and bad, on and off, etc. etc. Life comes or is the result of death. Socrates states that the soul can be without the body and that it clearly exists.

I agree completely with Socrates, not only from a religious aspect, but from the way I feel when in the presence of someone who has passed. They are clearly lifeless; it is just their shell that is present. It makes me uncomfortable, I feel uncomfortable because they are no longer themselves. When you think about it, it makes you wonder, where did their laugh go? Where did their voice go? Their love? Their personality? I understand that...