Plato
In Plato's Phaedo, the great philosopher, Socrates presents several arguments to the way a human being should live. According to Socrates, the way a person leads their life, determines how their life will end. Achilles and Hector of Homer's Iliad are two contrasting views on how one would live one's life. However, it is Achilles who best fits the philosophical existence according to the views of Socrates. An argument Socrates points out in Phaedo is the need to separate one's self from the material aspects in life. "Any man whom you see resenting death was not a lover of wisdom but a lover of the body, and also a lover of wealth or of honors, either or both," (68b) he said. Many of the warriors in the Iliad lived for wealth and honor. They fought for the prize and were known for their rewards. But to truly live philosophically, one must detach one's self from these materialistic qualities. Achilles was able to live up to Socrates' reasoning when he Another point Socrates presents is the separation
"For my own death, I'll meet in freely - whenever Zeus/ and other deathless gods would like to bring it on!" 18.138-139) Socrates says to his students "those who practice philosophy in the right way are in training for dying and they fear death last of all men," (67e). Socrates is making the point that you spend your life not fearing death. Hector proved that he truly did not understand the philosophical way of living when he offered Achilles a ransom for his life. "Wait, take the princely ransom of bronze and gold, / the gifts my father and noble mother will give you - / but give my body to friends to carry home again, / so Trojan men and women can do me honor/ with fitting rites of fire once I am dead." (22.401-405) He goes against Socrates' ideas by regarding wealth and body. Achilles may have understood this concept. Once his best friend, Patroclus, dies, Achilles feels that he must avenge his death even though his mother, the goddess Thetis, tells him that he will die very soon after killing Hector. Achilles understands this
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Approximate Word count = 704
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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