...How should we regard old age? In the latter half of the twentieth century, with rebellions of youth against "their elders", and whole new ideas arising as ever new layers of Mankind finally achieved something of what they needed to begin to be able to make their own contributions and understanding, a positive "Belief in Youth" came to predominate. But that has to be a surprising view! For with age people have certainly experienced more, so the long-standing association of wisdom with age seemed reasonable. So why did it happen, and is it a legitimate and better direction to look for answers for the world's problems? There are good reasons for this change to have occurred, for simply growing older does not automatically ensure increasing wisdom, and crucially, for the vast majority of ordinary people, both their cultural and knowledge deprivation via misinformation from those in control could, and indeed, often did ossify their ideas into ever more conservative, pessimistic and unimaginative ways of thinking. Indeed, the experiences of the majority are rarely of increasing opportunities and success, and much more frequently, of repeated retreats and even defeats of their aspirations. Indeed, their sources of information are quite consciously arranged to have this effect, whether it be in education, news, or even in their entertainment. And apart from such personal experiences, it has also mattered greatly how many and how deep were the political defeats endured by...
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...Wisdom How can anyone distinguish a connection between love, youth and wisdom when every time we even consider putting these three words together a contradiction appears? A moment of thinking discloses a simple thread on which they can easily be seen linked by nothing else but “life” itself. Firstly, we should never forget the fact that the moment we open our arms and embrace this world, our mind perceives every quality, ability or incapacity the human being is able to “possess” as a reality. But they have yet not grown before our eyes to make us better, stronger or more fragile. As time goes by it is for the heart to meet youth and all that it brings forward: adventure, smiles and hope. Still, a young soul can remain unchanged even if the body grows old and memories get lost in time. A more dynamic persona means a lively existence, while passivity within does not involve much. Without doubt youth has no age. However, the main difference between a teenager and a grown-up remains: knowledge, the process of piling up facts, becomes wisdom which lies in their simplification. In the early stages wisdom is rare, but not impossible. Some reach a certain level of perceptivity sooner than others due to many events of a high importance in one’s life. Besides those “exceptions”, the saying “In youth we learn, in age we understand” can be recognized as truth by all of us. Nevertheless, there is no dissimilarity between a wise man and a fool when they fall in love. People...
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...that Socrates delivered in his own defense during his trial and conviction before a jury of 501 men in Athens. Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth of Athens and introducing strange gods to the city. Socrates addresses the men of Athens as follows: “Do not create a disturbance, gentleman, even if you think I am boasting, for the story I shall tell does not originate with me, but I will refer you to a trustworthy source. I shall call upon the god of Delphi as witness to the existence and nature of my wisdom, if it be such. You know Chaerephon; he was my friend from youth, and a friend of most you, as he shared your exile and your return. You surely know the kind of man he was, how impulsive in any course of action. He went to Delphi at one time and ventured to ask the oracle – as I say, gentlemen, do not create a disturbance – he asked if any man was wiser than I, and the Pythian replied that no one was wiser. Chaerephon is dead, but his brother, will testify to you about this.” (Plato 25-26) Socrates recounts to the men of Athens how he took this news with great puzzlement. “What can the god mean? And what is the interpretation of this riddle? What can the oracle mean when he says that I am the wisest of men?” Socrates knew the oracle could not lie, and yet he thought that he had no particular wisdom or specialized knowledge at all So Socrates set out on a quest with two goals in mind: 1) To disprove the oracle by finding at least one person in...
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...claim of his wisdom and was willing to disprove it. In order to do that, he decided to question three different citizens on the topic they should be knowledgeable about. Socrates also questioned the Athenians while on trial to refute the allegations brought against him. In his conversations with the Athenians, Socrates questions before and during the trial were ineffective because he was still convicted of his crime. While on trial, Socrates tells of his interactions while questioning all people of knowledge. Socrates says “where wisdom is concerned, those who...
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... The Defense of Socrates, written by Plato in the year of 400a.c, narrates how Socrates defended in a court of charges of different men. He is accused of corrupting the youth mind and not believing in the god of the state, but in other new divinities. His accusers are Meletus, Anytus and Lycon. Throughout this first part, Socrates explains his innocence through various examples given during his apology. During his defense speech, Socrates insists that he clearly speaks the truth. For him, the truth is a virtue of wisdom, and there is no effect without cause. Therefore, according to him, every effect has its own cause. According to Socrates, his bad reputation is due to the wisdom he possesses. Their god assured him that there was a wiser man than he worldwide. That bad name originated because Socrates was put to test people believed wise, without actually being, and letting them know their true image of ignorance. Socrates explained to the judges that he had no knowledge of any kind with respect to cosmological issues. Instead, it was considered wiser than those who boasted of it, because he recognized their ignorance to know the issues, that is, cosmological, which did not confess presumptuous. Socrates denies that he has corrupted the youth. Notes that according Meletus, he corrupts the youth, who then Meletus explain the reason why people enjoy watching Socrates interrogates those who believe without being wise, and if that were true the accusation of Meletus, then...
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...him whether there was anyone wiser than I was, and the Pythian prophetess answered that there was no man wiser." (Pg30-) Socrates says, "......God orders me to fulfil the philosopher's mission of searching into myself and other men....., (pg 34)".....And this is a duty which God has imposed upon me as i am assured by oracles, visions and in every sort of way .....one." Criticism: 1) May be what oracle wanted to say was that there was no man wiser than Socrates, the Oracle could have meant that everyone had the same level of wisdom as that of Socrates. Hence, when Socrates went about in finding out whether what Oracle said was really true, he was only bent upon seeing whether the wisdom of others exceeds that of his. And so, he didn't check to see if other's wisdom was same as that of his. And thus, he wrongly concludes that Socrates is wiser than others, where it could have meant that all the people on this earth were of the same level of wisdom. 2) Socrates has said that "God.......searching into myself...." Here by looking at Socrates actions it seems...
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... peers? Or do our values come from the TV and movies? And what difference do values make anyway? Many parents are concerned that the core beliefs that brought them happiness in life are not being passed on to their children. Tragically, for the first time in our history, it looks like the next generation will have less opportunity than past generation. Parents want what is best for their children. We all want something even better for them, not worse! But something has gone terribly wrong, because youth are not being taught the character, wisdom, and morals that earlier generations were taught. These values are the convictions that guide our behaviour. But something has gone terribly wrong, because youth are not being taught the character, wisdom, and morals that earlier generations were taught. These values are the convictions that guide our behaviour. The youth of today does have respect for others or themselves for example sagging the pants that is not cool. The youth does not have any personal development at all. You can ask them what are their plans in life the answers are crazy I was told once whatever it takes to get this money and that was from a young lady. But I am without such internal controls of conduct, no free society can survive, much less prosper. Unless we do something about this alarming trend, ours probably will...
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...Western Philosophy greatly, allowing him to appear as something resembling a hero today. Socrates was put on trial in 399BC in Athens, Greece for impiety (asebeia) and for corrupting the youth. Some suppose Socrates’ death, at age 70, was politically motivated as Athens was trying to disassociate itself with those involved with the Thirty Tyrants, led by Critias who was a student of Socrates. Also, before being put on trial Socrates had aggravated many powerful politicians by exposing their ignorance, so his death may be seen as revenge. Socrates’ friend, Chaerephon, asked the omniscient Oracle of Delphi if there was any man wiser than Socrates and when the priestess replied that there wasn’t, Socrates made it his mission to prove the Oracle wrong. Socrates was puzzled as to why the Oracle had said he was the wisest man as he knew that she could not lie, but according to...
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...withholding our hands in the evening, our compassion may serve us well in the future should evil befall us. Likewise, things may happen beyond our ability to control or comprehend, but carefulness in sowing seed and being mindful of the dark days to come can help to prepare us for their coming (Ecclesiastes 1-8). In this book, it also introduces direction from the Preacher designed especially for the young. The young man is encouraged to rejoice, letting his heart cheer him. He is told to walk in the ways of his heart and in the sight of his eyes, yet with the knowledge that God will hold Page 2 him accountable for all that he does. So remove sorrow and rejoice. But also put away evil during the fleeting years of childhood and youth (Ecclesiastes 9-10). Now before I get in depth with scripture, I want to go back to the book; Grasping God’s Word. Looking at scriptures I want to connect them to some background information on summarizing the scripture. In looking at the book there are five ways to summarize a scripture. The five ways are general and specific, question and answers, dialogue, purpose and...
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...* Was a Sophist Why was socrates unpopular * Two sets of charges put toward Socrates * * Accused of worshiping false Gods (or no Gods at all) * Also accused of corrupting the youth * Socrates adds that there are unspoken charges pressed against him * * He says these charges are the real reason he is in court * He says the may be impossible for him to fight against What do the people (wrongly) believe about Socrates: * He is the same as the Presocratics (and therefore does not believe in God) * Interested in Arche * An atheist * A sophist * Teaches the young (corrupting them) * * Socrates never tried to teach anyone * Therefore he denied he was a sophist Oracle of Apollo at Delphi * If socrates is not a sophist, and does not teach virtue, what has he been doing? * * He calls upon the Oracle to prove that he only has human wisdom (not divine) * The Oracle tells Socrates’ friend that he is “the wisest of men” * * What did the Oracle mean? * Socrates knows he is not wise, never mind the wisest * Therefore, he attempts to prove the Oracles legitimacy * * He questions others about there wisdom in order to see if the Oracle (a God) speaks the truth * By doing this he became the “spokesperson” for the Oracle * This led to Socrates...
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...Corrupting the youth of Athens II. Socrates – the man A. Who was he? B. Background of his life Plato's “The Apology” is an interpretation of the speech Socrates gives at the trial in which he is charged with not believing in the gods that the city of Athens believes in and corrupting the Athenians youth. He argues that he does not know the answers to the questions he is asked and that he is innocent of both of these charges. His defense is eventually ineffective, and he is condemned to death. Socrates concludes the Apology by arguing that man should not have a fear of death. Socrates was born in circa 470 BC to a mason and midwife. He served in the armored infantry, participated in three military campaigns. After his served in the military is when he decided he needed to pursue philosophy. For the most part, Socrates was a simple man, even somewhat ignorant. He speaks in a very plain, relaxed manner. He explains that he has no experience with the courts and that he will instead speak in the manner to which he is comfortable: with honesty and directness. He explains that his behavior began when he set out on a quest to find someone wiser than himself. Recognizing his own inability to know anything about worldly affairs, Socrates concludes that he must be wiser than most men because he knows nothing at all. In order to spread this strange wisdom, Socrates explains that he considered it his duty to question supposed "wise" men and to expose their false wisdom as ignorance...
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...life, morality, virtue, and human nature. The original word for philosophy comes from the ancient Greek word philosopha, which means love of wisdom. Although Socrates himself never claimed to have any answers to the questions he raised, his views and methods of philosophy became the foundations of what philosophy is today. Socrates actually wrote nothing, because he felt that knowledge was something to be gained by living and interacting in the world. So most of what we do know about Socrates comes from the writings of another very important person in Greek history, Plato. Socrates’ philosophy was based on pursuit of truth through the questioning of beliefs, virtue being defined as knowledge and talking about the elements that make up a good life. Greek philosophy before Socrates is called Pre-Socratic philosophy and the origin of western philosophy can be found early Greek thinkers of the 6th and 7th century BC. The Pre-Socratic philosophers were called physiologoi; physical or natural philosophers and they lived and taught in Asia Minor, Thrace, Sicily and south Italy. The Pre-Socratic philosophy is a philosophy of nature. The Pre-Socratic combined Greek mythology with rational thinking and sought all the forces which compose nature. Socrates grew up in the atmosphere of the Pre-Socratic thought and explored their knowledge and wisdom. Socrates gave philosophy for the first time an anthropocentric character. The absence of this element in previous thought is the main reason...
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...Summary Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates' speech, however, is by no means an "apology" in our modern understanding of the word. The name of the dialogue derives from the Greek "apologia," which translates as a defense, or a speech made in defense. Thus, in The Apology, Socrates attempts to defend himself and his conduct--certainly not to apologize for it. For the most part, Socrates speaks in a very plain, conversational manner. He explains that he has no experience with the law courts and that he will instead speak in the manner to which he is accustomed: with honesty and directness. He explains that his behavior stems from a prophecy by the oracle at Delphi which claimed that he was the wisest of all men. Recognizing his ignorance in most worldly affairs, Socrates concluded that he must be wiser than other men only in that he knows that he knows nothing. In order to spread this peculiar wisdom, Socrates explains that he considered it his duty to question supposed "wise" men and to expose their false wisdom as ignorance. These activities earned him much admiration amongst the youth of Athens, but much hatred and anger from the people he embarrassed. He cites their contempt as the reason for his being put on trial. Socrates then proceeds to interrogate Meletus, the man primarily responsible...
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...making stone sculptors, but Socrates turned away from his life as a sculptor and fought in the Potidaean War, saving the life of a distinguished General Alcibiades. After he returned from war, his friend asked The Oracle of Delphi: “Is there any man smarter than Socrates?” The Oracle replied with “none”. This was the trigger for Socrates to start his path of Philosophy, as he went through Athens questioning people about their intelligence to prove the oracle wrong. He mused that the poorer people of Athens showed more wisdom than the more educated. This teaching was popular among the youth of Athens, and Socrates found himself being followed by a dozen or more young men, hoping to learn off of Socrates. He accepted no payments for this philosophical teachings,...
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...Youth and wisdom can co-exist depending on the person and how they interpret situations. The short story “Through the Tunnel” and the short film “Mind the Gap” did not portray the fact that youth and wisdom can co-exist. “Through the Tunnel” a story about a little boy was trying to be strong and hold his breath underwater for two minutes. He would not tell anyone what he was trying to do and the dark tunnel that he found. He was challenging himself like how an adult has to face many challenges in life, but much more difficult challenges. The short film “Mind the Gap” portrays a sheep that is already an adult. It shows you his memories and the process of him becoming an adult. Eventually he breaks down because his childhood was taken away from him so suddenly, and he couldn’t accept it. The mask that was given to him on his birthday, it was a sign that he had to be an adult and playing around was over. Although the sheep was very young at the time, he was sad that the time for being a child was over when his parents had given him the mask. A mask that covers your face so they wouldn’t see what your facial expressions are when sad or happy, but when the sheep is on the train he sees a child whining and being needy. His mother had told him to be quite and stop, but the child wouldn’t be quite and stop pestering the other passengers. The sheep had gotten off the train and broke down from the horrid memories of his childhood disappearing because of that mask. He ripped it off and...
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