191 S12 essay question two.

Please type. Answer in 200-300 words.

2. Socrates argues that we should not fear death because fearing death makes it harder for us to lead good lives. Explain what he means. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Student answer:

First part: What does Socrates mean?

Socrates argues that we should not fear death, because fearing death makes it harder for us to lead good lives. By a good life, Socrates means a life meant pursuing knowledge about morality and how to live, as well as being a good moral person. When facing the option of giving up his personal beliefs and morals or choosing death, Socrates chooses death, recognizing that had he feared death more, he might not have had the courage to make the right choice. If you fear death, you may do anything just to survive and that may include immoral things. For instance, in prison, where there is a great deal of fear of death, inmates often do terrible things because of that fear.

Second part, do you agree? Why or why not?

Irrelevant: other reasons not to fear death. The question asks you only for Socrates reasons why we shouldn't fear death because it will make it hard to lead a good life. Other reasons not to fear death are not relevant to this question.

Inaccurate and thus irrelevant: the good life is having fun, or fulfilling one's potential. . . . thus to claim that Socrates says we shouldn't fear death because it will prevent us from doing risky things like snowboarding is both inaccurate and irrelevant.