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"Anytus and Meletus Cannot Harm Socrates"

April 20, 2007 1:50 AM

s those of you who frequent this blog (read: my friends) may know, I have a degree in philosophy. My favorite philosopher, by far, is Socrates. I can't really tell you why this is the case, but I know that this is true. As is the case with Jesus Christ, I can't tell you whether Socrates was real or merely a figmet of someone's imagination. But, as with Jesus, I can tell you that we can learn invaluable lessons from Socrates.

The most important of these involves Soctates' death. Let me briefly relay that story for those of you who don't know what happened. Several Athenians, including two men named Anytus and Meletus, accused Socrates of various crimes, including blasphemy and corruption of the youth. Although Socrates was innocent, Anytus and Meletus convinced the people that he was guilty. Socrates was sentenced to death. Although he had the chance to escape, Socrates faced his sentence and died.

Plato, a disciple of Socrates', tells us that "to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." Socrates knew that he was going to die but stayed true to his beliefs nonetheless. He proudly told the jury that Anytus and Meletus, although they had the power to kill him, could not harm him.

It may be strange to us to think about what it means to say that, even though we can be killed, we cannot be harmed. It was perfectly clear, however, to Socrates: we will all die, but death is not the end, if we are to take Socrates' cosmology seriously. To Socrates, the particulars of our life were unimportant. What mattered were the Forms, the real things. Anytus and Meletus could harm Socrates physically, they could cause him pain, they could even kill him. But this was all unimportant. What mattered is that the Form of what Socrates believed in--the Form of the Good--remained.

In the past several days, someone has come here and attempted to harm me. What this person said is unimportant; what matters is that this person has been exposed as a fraud.

\Anytus and Meletus cannot harm me.



9 Comments


Vice said:

Does this then negate the need to grab our pitchforks and torches and posse up?

Seriously, the thought that you might delete this blog is blasphemous. Especially as a result of haterism. Every day (approximately 275 times a day) I come here to check on the latest thoughts of one of my best friends in the world and any new comments to be found. I swear, you ever delete this blog, I will continue to check the space where it once was 275 times a day on the off chance that you decide to bring it back, and once again unleash your singularly hilarious and outspoken brand of social commentary.

April 20, 2007 9:17 AM



Utah said:

An attack on you is like an attack on NATO...you attack one of us, you attack us all. This aggressor shall face the full wrath of the firm nuclear and biochemical arsenal. Also, I think my tank needs an oil change, so let me know when the attack will begin.

April 20, 2007 12:10 PM



Ismael Tapia II said:

Thanks for the showing of solidarity, guys. It means a lot to me; I really appreciate it. I'll be sure to let you guys know if I ever find out who the perpetrator was.

Being me and having this blog makes me fairly susceptible to insulting comments. I'm actually surprised that I don't get more obnoxious comments. I usually deal with it pretty well, but these particular comments were just not cool.

I won't take down the blog anytime in the foreseeable future. I love writing it, and I love people reading it.

I've fantasized at times of making the blog completely anonymous, but I don't think I'd be able to pull it off; I'm just not meant to have a secret identity. If I were Superman, for example, I'd save the world, show up at the Daily Planet offices as Clark Kent, and walk around saying things like "wow, Superman really saved the day today, huh? I wonder who he is . . . . he's probably the last person you'd suspect--I bet he's all dorky and shy. But, man, is he awesome." In other words, I'd want the credit.

So, I guess I'll just have to deal with the stupid people who come here and, for whatever reason, want to bring me down. I can do that. Afterall, all they're doing is demonstrating their own failings.

April 20, 2007 3:50 PM



TheExpat said:

Okay, from my remote vantage I don't have the foggiest idea what is going on. But I'll say this: Here is No Why must continue! As one of the few people who has actually ever managed to get under your skin ('the roof is leaking!', 'no it's not, your crazy'), I know that the challenge to try must be intoxicating, especially to such unsophisticated pretenders to the throne of trickery and mayhem as you have here described.

As the ubiquitous dime store elephant (printed and glazed upon pillows, blankets, mugs and whatever else middle America can think of), beset by Thanksgiving fowl from head to toe is so fond of saying, "Don't let the turkeys get you down."

April 20, 2007 7:45 PM



Lauren said:

I don't know what's going on either, but I know Here is No Why is the first entry on my blog favorites and its the first thing I check after my email. So if someone is trying to take it down, and they're even remotely close to Arizona....I have sharp and deadly elbows and I know how to use them.

And of all the philosophers I've ever known, you certainly remind me most of Socrates...idealistic, brilliant, and a penchant for pissing people off (but only because they know you're right).

April 20, 2007 9:02 PM



jbob said:

I have been away too long.

April 21, 2007 10:59 AM



Kameryn said:

None can doubt the veracity of this atricle.

July 10, 2011 6:22 PM









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