argument+2

Socrates' view on death is that, "the cosmos is grounded in goodness, hence that a good person cannnot suffer unduly and that death is not something to be feared". Socrates believed that there is no reason given to us to fear death. He also goes to suggest that death is a good thing. In //The Death of Socrates//, this argument is supported with Socrates' statement saying, "...either death is a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness, or, as men say, there is a change and migration of the soul from this world to another." Socrates speculates that if death is when one is unconscious, their mind would simply be in a state of sleep. On the other hand, death could be the transfer of the soul from one world to another. Socrates continues to discuss the souls being transfered and asks, "What would not a man give if he might converse with Orpheus and Musaeus and Hesoid and Homer?". By Socrates mentioning notable beings, he is suggesting to the reader that death shouldn't be feared, but should be looked forward to. There is no reason to assume that the other world would put harm to a soul after death.

He continues to emphasize this argument, but while he is discussing the issue of fearing death, he focuses more on the transfer of the soul rather than a state of being unconscious. Socrates further deliberates the fact that souls are transfered continuing to mention, "...but I may and must ask the gods to prosper my journey from this to the other world...". Not further mentioning the soul being in a state of unconsciousness and leaving it to have only been mentioned once, it is not further emphasized. Noticing Socrates' general theory, it is clear that even though Socrates doesn't use the soul being in a state of unconsciousness after death in his personal life, he still includes it in order to broaden his followers. In doing so, he is able to gain supporters who believe in either the transfer of the soul or the state of being asleep after death.



Works Cited: 1. "DreUam." __Universe Review.__ 4 Dec. 2007  2. Plato. __The Death of Socrates.__

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