Tonight I want to do something a little different and give you a little bit of everything. I'd like to start with a continuation of the philosophy to keep things flowing. Last night I talked to you about the "Allegory of the Cave," but for right now I'd like to focus more on Socrates as the human being, not just the man whose words have been strewn across countless pages across the world. This is called "Apology."
Meletus, Socrates' chief accuser interrogates Socrates in front of the Athenian jury (in this time period, the jury was the men of the Senate.) He is accusing Socrates of corrupting the youth. This retelling is referred to as "the apology," but it's much more of an attack followed by a responsive defense than anything else. Socrates describes to the men of the jury his experience of visiting the oracle at Delphi, who said that "there is no man wiser" than Socrates. He is perplexed by this notion, and decides to look at it more as a riddle than a statement. Socrates figures that as long as he finds another man whom he believes to be wiser than he, it will contradict the oracle's statement and make a bold statement against such prophecies and stipulations. There is another man that has the reputation of being very wise, so Socrates decides to use him as a test. This man is a well-known politician, and many think of him as a very wise man, but they Socrates comes to realize after actually sitting down and talking to this man, that he is not a wise man at all, and he thinks of himself as even wiser than the common people do. Socrates realizes that he truly is much wiser than this man. Socrates calls this man out on his lack of wisdom, and is met with great hatred.
He decides to take it as a lesson and says to himself, "well although I do not suppose either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is - for he knows nothing and thinks that he knows. I neither know nor think that I know. In this latter, then, I seem to have an advantage over him. In my opinion, he is saying that he is much more realistic and aware of the notion that although he may have some very thought-provoking stances and ways of interpreting certain details of life, there are many things that he does not and will never know. He can appreciate the fact that some things are just infinite questions that go through most people's minds but can not simply be answered. "why am I here?" "how did I get here?" "what happens after all of this?"
These questions have been going through my head for the past several months, and sometimes I catch glimpses of the answers, but they're always subtle, faint, uncertain, but nonetheless powerful and moving. We search for our place in life, the meaning of life, the reason why we were put here, on this planet, in this place, in this time period, being who we are, and these questions are enough to make you crazy. And they do make me crazy. But sometimes I find comfort in the little moments of fulfillment. Is the sky there so that the birds can fly? Are the birds there so that the sky can have something to fill it? Or is their interaction a coincidence? This may be a terrible example, but we just don't know.
Socrates is accused of spreading the views and beliefs of atheism. Meletus charges that Socrates is completely atheist and has no spiritual, divine, or holy beliefs. Socrates responds that if he believes in holy and divine things, then he is not a complete atheist just because he's not so sure if he believes in a divine being or multiple beings. He goes on to pose a few questions before Meletus and the rest of the jury, "did any man, Meletus, ever believe in the existence of human things and not human beings?... I wish, men of Athens, that he would answer and not be always trying to create an interruption. Did ever any man believe in horsemanship and not horses? Or in flute playing and not flute players? No, my friend. I will answer for you and to the court, as you refuse to answer for yourself. There is no man who ever did. But now, please answer the next question. Can a man believe in spiritual and divine activities and not in divine beings?"
This question is one that many people can go their entire lives and not be able to fully answer. We all have our own set of beliefs, regardless of religion or background, but everyone experiences things at one time or another that they just can not explain. Those are the things that make me hopeful that there is a greater purpose to this life, there is something more than right here, right now, you and I, me and you. And if not, then let's make it count right now. But if there is, let's live our lives in every way we can to try to attain a higher standard and meaningful existence, a bigger meaning, accomplishing positive triumphs. A closed mind is like a closed book, and the eye of the master will do more work than both his hands. Open your mind, your eyes, your mind's eye to the bigger meaning in the little things in life, the minute by minute timeline of your existence and you will find a deeper purpose.
This is not a religious blog crusade, the words I've just put in front of you can apply to anyone in any creed, region, socioeconomic status, or place in their life. Live in the moment, but be aware of it's affect on the future, and the way that the past is shaping your actions, your decisions, your justifications. In the end we have tools put in front of us, whether they are physical objects, other human beings, or opportunities, and we have to act. If a knife is put in your hand you can oppress the people around you, or you can break the bound free. Life hands us countless opportunities, both big and small each day, we just have to look for them, and decide what to do with them.
