Plato's Apology

Plato's Apology holds warnings that still hold true to this day and continue to be applicable to the events of the time. When Socrates asks the craftsmen, poets, and politicians to share their "wisdom" it becomes apparent that they know very little of anything that extends beyond their own profession. Some do not even know their own job. Yet they live their lives and make decisions as if they do know these things. This same issue can be found among the majority of people in America today. Sometimes when I am scrolling through Facebook, I'll come across one of those controversial posts about some issue and see the relentless stream of comments with each person giving their opinion on the matter. What always astounds me is the ridiculous amount of misinformation found in the comments from both sides of the isle. Thousands of comments from thousands of people who claim to know the answer, the truth of the matter, when really they do not even understand the issue themselves. Many in our society have been taught that their opinion is just as good as anybody else's so much so that most disregard the necessity for thorough research. Additionally, we have become addicted to the instant gratification of our desires. So many seek to find the quickest route to an answer, rather than go through the process of educating themselves. Education and research take too much time and so they would rather have someone tell them the answer. Most do not understand the arguments and foundations for their own beliefs, but at the same time believe they have equal authority to speak on such matters. The scariest part is that these same people believe they have done the research or have put in the hard work to find the truth.

The greatness of Socrates is that he stopped these very individuals and forced them to explain their beliefs. His Socratic method turned the individual in on themselves so that they might realize the gravity of their erred judgment. In a way he gave them the gift of wisdom through humility. This is an invaluable lesson that we should apply to ourselves. It is good to look in the mirror once and a while and know who you are. Although Socrates is not around anymore to question us, we have Plato's account to remind us of the duty to our own self to pursue the truth, know what we believe, and why we believe it with substantial arguments. What are some other qualities besides humility and thorough inquiry that Socrates gives us in order to better attain wisdom?

-BaylorBear16