The most interesting incident on earth

By Gur Rattan Pal Singh

SOCRATES, (469-399 B.C.) born in Athens in the well-to-do family of Athenian sculptor Sophroniscus and midwife Phaenarete, has been an enigmatic character in the history of philosophy and literature. He spent a lot of his time conversing with young men of promise, politicians and workmen about their callings and notions of right and wrong. Teachers from all walks of life — from Xenophon, the military general, to Plato, the intellectual and aristocrat — had the privilege of listening to Socrates, who steadfastly preached his mission of life : how to lead men to the truth. He recognised only one good : knowledge and only one evil : ignorance.

Socrates wrote nothing and yet he has been immortalised through facts about his life and the enunciation of his doctrines mainly contained in the dialogues of Plato and the memorabilia of Xenophon. In two consummate biographical dialogues — "The Apology" (recounting the trial and condemnation of Socrates) and "Phaedo" (a portrayal of Socrates’ last hours and death) - Plato brilliantly portrays the life, character and doctrines of Socrates, his teacher, at whose feet he learnt philosophy during the most impressionable years of his life (407-399 B.C.)

In 399 B.C., Socrates was indicted on two counts - corrupting the youth and neglecting the gods whom the entire city worshipped. He was accused of practising religious novelties such as creating other divinities of his own. Socrates treated these charges with utmost contempt and took up a strong defence justifying his teachings. After the prosecutors had presented the case, Socrates rose to reply and his speeches and those of his friends are a part of Apology. Despite the impressive and eloquent plea, the jurors found Socrates guilty, though by a close vote, and death was decreed.

With the end of the trial, Socrates addressed some last words to those who had condemned him, rebuking them and warning that strident notes of moral dissent and criticism could not be silenced merely by putting men to death.

He told his friends: "No harm can befalled a good man in life or in death. Death is either an eternal and dreamless sleep or a journey to another better world. In either case, it is not an evil but a good. Also - whether life or death is better, is best known only to God. O Athenians, you can believe Anytus or not, you may acquit or not, but I shall not alter my conduct, no, not if I have to die a score of deaths. You can assure yourselves of this that, being what Isay, if you put me to death, you will not be doing greater injury to me than to yourselves. The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways — I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows".

The prosecution had asked for the penalty of death and now it was up to the accused to make a counter-proposition. Though a smaller but substantial penalty would have been accepted. Socrates took a strong stand that incensed the court. The self-invited and certainly not accidential death sentence was voted by a majority and he felt well contented.

The execution was delayed for 30 days, during the Delian festival, but Socrates refused to avail himself of the plans made for his escape. He drank with alacrity hemlock; a deadly poison, in the spring of 399 B.C. While doing so, he continued his discourse on philosophy while friends stood around him and wept.

According to James K. Feibleman, after the death of Socrates, Athenians felt such remorse that they closed their schools temporarily, put Miletus to death and banished the other accusers. Then they honoured Socrates with a bronze statue. This, of course, did not bring him back to life, but it did much to widely spread his teachings, the task which was left to his pupils.

Socrates courted the death sentence contemptuously, declining the alternative of exile, thereby becoming an ideal of unparalleled attraction to the Greek youth. Before and at the time of his death, he displayed a remarkable presence of mind, coolness, bravery and an exemplary power of endurance.

In the opinion of the nineteenth century Danish religious philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, a precursor of existentialism, Socrates’ execution was the inevitable requital for his life, the most interesting incident on earth. The more genuine a man’s life is the greater miseries and pains he has to endure.

Socrates, according to Jaspers, solicited his own death, his execution was not a juridical murder but a juridical suicide.

Gustav Kafka described the condemnation of Socrates as a blameworthy act of "reactionary democracy". Living Socrates was less inconvenient and formidable for his contemporaries than the dead one. This unpleasant truth dawned upon his political rivals only after his dramatic and spectacular death which was the inevitable result of his loyalty to his mission. Death came to Socrates as a gift, as a favour, and not as a punishment, immortalising him for all times to come.

The dialogue contained in Crito takes place sometime between the trial and the death of Socrates. He is visited in his cell by his old friend Crito who implores him to escape and save himself. Socrates rejects the proposal, as he argues that he would be reversing the conduct of his past life and mocking his statement at the trial that he would prefer death to exile.

Although Socrates was a non-conformist and a critic of the state, he recognised the authority of law as well as of his own conscience. According to him, to suffer a wrong is an evil but to inflict one is much worse.

The third work; Phaedo, records the last hours of Socrates in prison before his execution. When talks regarding death and the relationship between the soul and body continued a little too long, the attendant who was to administer poison informed Socrates that the discussion was to be avoided as it would increase heat and, thus, interfere with the effect of poison.

The attendant apparently wanted to avoid administering a second or even a third dose. Socrates asked him to mind his own business and be prepared to give the poison twice or even three times, if necessary.

The final preparations started with a bath. In order to save the women the trouble of washing his corpose, Socrates took a bath and later held a meeting with Xanthipee, his wife, children and friends to give them the last gems of his wisdom.

Now the hour of sunset was near and the jailer entered and told Socrates to drink the poison.

He, however, pleaded: "I am sure that you will not be angry with me; for others, as you are aware, and not I, are to blame." Then bursting into tears, he turned away and went out.

Socrates thanked him for his good wishes and complimented him for his services in the jail. When the cup of hemlock was brought, Socrates asked the jailer that since he was experienced in matters of execution, therefore,could he tell him how to conduct himself.

The jailer told Socrates that he had only to walk about until his legs were heavy and then to lie down and the poison would act.

He then handed over the cup of hemlock to Socrates, who in the easiest and gentlest manner with the least fear of death drank the cup.

Socrates’ friends wept, but the great man retained his calm and protested why there was all that hue and cry? He told his friends that he had sent away the women mainly to ensure that their laments would not come in the way of his dying in peace.

Socrates continued to walk until his legs began to fail and then he lay on his back according to the instructions of his executor. The man who gave him the poison looked at his feet every now and then and after a while he pressed his foot hard and asked him if he could feel the pressure. Socrates answered "No".

The jailer then informed him that when the poison reached the heart, that would be the end.

Socrates was beginning to grow cold. He uncovered his face and spoke his last words:"Crito, I owe a cock to Asciepius; will you remember to pay the debt?"

"The debt shall be paid", replied Crito," Is there anything else?"

There was no answer to that question. Such was the end of Socrates about whom his friend, Phaedo, truely observed: "He was the wisest, justest and best."

One is yet to find a better compliment than the one given by Socrates’ most devoted and learned disciple, Plato: "Thanks God I was born a Greek, not a barbarian, a free man, not a slave, a man, not a woman, and above all, I was born in the age of Socrates."