ENGL 298 B: Intermediate Writing Social Sciences   Autumn 2011, University of Washington

Of all the words in the “Apology” and in the Crito, the word “wisdom” provoked the most thought forme.  What does wisdom entail?  Is it the concrete knowledge we learn from education, our experiences, or both?  Socrates says “all that I say is true…What has caused my reputation is none other than a certain kind of wisdom. What kind of wisdom? Human wisdom (e.g. 20d).    According to Socrates, being knowledgeable in one subject does not mean one knows everything.  Socrates says “he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser than he to this small extent, that I do not think I knowwhat I do not know (e.g. 21d).   Socrates believes he is the wisest because he is aware he does not know everything, whereas others are not as wise because they think they know everything in certain areas.   My issue with the “Apology”, however, revolves around the sincerity in Socrates’ actions.  He also gains wisdom with communication, so he goes around town asking others questions.  He, in the end, declares himself the wisest person.  Does Socrates, however, go around asking town folk questions in order to truly gain wisdom, or does he
just ask others questions in an arrogant manner to prove and rather flaunt he is the wisest?   I do not think we can see his true intentions. I feel as though his arrogance may hinder his wisdom.

Another word I feel is important is “death”.  Although I am rather irritated by Socrates’ arrogance, his view on death ties back to his
view on wisdom.  Socrates says we do not know what death is like, or what happens when we die, so we should not fear
death.  He says “there is good hope that death is a blessing…either the dead are nothing and have no perception of anything, or it is…a change and a relocating from the soul from here to another place” (e.g. 40d).  I agree with Socrates’ view, thus I think he makes a very wise and intelligent point with this statement. We do not know what death is like; therefore we should not fear it. Socrates’ view on death is also courageous; he knows he is obligated to die
in order to follow the strict law in Athens, and oddly I respect his decision. It almost seems as though he dies for historical significance, and I respect his bravery for keeping the law. We may never know the true intentions of Socrates, but personally I think his view on death does indeed reflect his wisdom.