What Is the Definition of Wisdom?

...

how important he is to him and what others will think of him if he doesn’t do anything. Socrates’s morals eventually win over the argument with Crito. He believed in the laws of Athens and lived with them for seventy years. He made an agreement to follow those very laws, he raised his children under the Athenian rule and didn’t try to persuade anyone in the community to change those laws. Crito is left speechless and Socrates says to follow these course of actions and to let the gods lead the way. Lastly, in The Phaedo, Socrates explains to his friends, “The philosopher avoids suicide but welcomes death” (Plato pg. 120). Socrates argues that the soul leaves the body after death and is immortal. He states, with several arguments, the soul is immortal and that wisdom is all that matters with the philosopher’s occupation is dying. I do agree that after death your wisdom and soul are intertwined together. You leave your flesh, blood, and bones essentially becoming an immortal in whatever your religion may be. I do believe Socrates contradicts himself with his suicide statement. At the end of Phaedo, Socrates is given his poison for his execution. If someone were to take poison like that today it would be considered selfish as well as a suicide. However, I do realize that there were strange and unusual executions thousands of years ago. Socrates accepted his verdict during the trial, he accepted his death sentence, and in the end is surrounded by all of his friends. He believes his soul will be immortal and his wisdom will go on forever. I suppose in a sense his wisdom is immortal. People all over the world in some shape or form has heard of Socrates either from readings or other teachings. My question to Socrates would be, does being remembered make you immortal as well without involving the soul?

In conclusion, I have discussed several stories by Plato discussing Socrates and his imminent death. I have given examples of the different types of wisdom. What is wisdom you may ask? It comes down to the will to learn more and improve yourself. Socrates had several examples of wisdom. The wisdom of how to perceive the truth, the wisdom of not knowing it all but willing to learn more, wisdom of just experiencing life, and finally the wisdom after death. After these readings the past few weeks, wisdom is much more than being knowledgeable or smart. We have to have the courage to do what is right even when we know something is wrong. Having good moral decisions in life will help us when it is our time to go. Knowing we did everything that we could and to the best of our potential will look amazing when God examines our overall life. After all, he is the one to decide if our soul will be blessed or sent to an eternity of darkness. Socrates would agree with my statement about how God examines life. I have to say that my mind has changed greatly thus far in this course about what is philosophy and now with what is wisdom. I used to take the easy simple route in life. Just doing what I’m told when I’m told to do so. I would always work hard at my job and even in my academics. I thought at the time that I was pushing myself. I am glad that I have learned to be more open-minded. I never knew how closed-minded I was before. Maybe it was the way I was brought up but if Socrates were here today I would tell him that I will try to see the world and life as he did. I will close in saying that knowledge is definitely power but without wisdom that power is nothing. Socrates once said, “True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us” ("Socrates")

References

Tarrant, H. (2003). Plato - The Last Days of Socrates. London: Penguin Books

"Socrates" BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2015. 23 July