If anyone thinks that Socrates is proven to have lied about his daimon because the jury condemned him to death when he stated that a divinity revealed to him what he should and should not do, then let him take note of two things: first, that Socrates was so far advanced in age that he would have died soon, if not then; and second, that he escaped the most bitter part of life, when all men's mental powers diminish.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Socrates argues that his execution was not a contradiction of his divine sign, as he was nearing natural death and avoided the decline of old age.
- In plain terms
- He was old and would have died soon anyway, and death spared him from the suffering of aging.
- What can you take from it?
- Death can be a relief from the inevitable decline of life.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we interpret signs of divine will?
- Is avoiding old age a valid benefit of death?
Another view
The argument relies on accepting Socrates' claim about his divine sign as true.
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