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Death As Depicted In Plato's Apology

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Death is an ambiguous entity which leaves most in it’s path desolate and forgotten. Though it’s reasoning and terminus are unknown, it’s intentions are clear and should be respected while revered.
The Platonic dialogue Apology by Plato supports my analogical view that Socrates belief that death is nothing to be feared is flawed and misleading. This is supported through Socrates ideas of the destination for the soul, his assumptions on the state of death and his idea of the rewards of the righteous.
In the Apology during his death sentence Socrates declares that death perhaps may be a blessing and to fear it is a mistake. Socrates presents the idea that since there is not a single individual who has seen death and lived to profess its mysteries, …show more content…

The benefits of death stand out to Socrates as he believes that either life is nonexistent after death or those who lead morally sound lives will prosper in death. This is shown the quote “Now if there is, in fact, no awareness in death, but it is like sleep the kind in which the sleeper does not even dream at all then death would seem to be a marvelous gain (pg 35)”. This idea of death being a peaceful slumber like dream is misleading due to the fact that at death, unlike a dream the individual would not and could not be awoken for eternity. He also states that “no one knows if death may be the greatest good” but this ca also be seen as a biased statement as no one knows if death may be the greatest evil. This idea leaves room for doubt and questions which can cause an individual to fear the outcomes of their demise. Moreover this unknown fear may prove to be a beneficial conflict as this may be a significant turning point in a person's life to cause them to reflect on their life and choices, in order to change their ways towards a righteous way of living in order to avoid deaths conceivably harsh judgement on the

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