What Are Socrates Ideas About Death

This quotation is significant because it represents Socrates’ ideas about death. He believes that fearing the unknown is unreasonable because we don’t know what happens after death. Socrates also believes that “being dead is one of two things” (Socrates 58); either you feel nothing at all or it is a “journey from here to another place” (Socrates 59). Fearing something we don’t now is not going to get us anywhere except limit our potential. Although, death is a frightful concept, it might also be a good thing. He also believes that it is not difficult to refrain from death, but it is difficult to stay away from evil since it surrounds us all. Doing something evil and sinful will torment one’s soul forever, even after death. Socrates believes

After Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh goes wandering in his quest for immortality. Upon meeting Utapinishti, Gilgamesh observes that Utapinishti seems no different from himself, and asks him how he obtained his immortality. Utapinishti, a mortal man who is now a god, explained to Gilgamesh that death is our certain destiny, even if we don’t know when it will happen. Utnapishtim goes on to say that Gilgamesh inherited his father’s mortality and, like everything else in the mortal world, he is subject to death. (Gilgamesh 93). Utapinishiti’s and Socrates’ assessment of death is greatly similar. Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality fails short when he realized that death is something that can not be ignored. He cannot escape it therefore he has to embrace and appreciate moments in his life. As a reader, I can identify the change Gilgamesh made after the great revelation. The tone Gilgamesh used to describe his village at the ending is filled with pride and appreciation than in beginning. Gilgamesh’s self awareness that he eventually acquires greatly mirrors Socratics’ belief about death; that death is out of our hands, so we might as live well and examine our lives until we are