Socrates Think of Henry David Essay

Socrates and Thoreau are similar through the fact that both of them lobbied for a just world where slavery would not be present concomitantly with taking advantage of the institution of slavery. Socrates would thus identify with Thoreau, given that each of these two men lived in a time when their opinions were worthless when compared to those of the masses. Thoreau and Socrates were well aware that violence would be pointless in times when slavery was still considered to be normal by the majority. Socrates would however feel that Thoreau's perspective in regard to Brown's decision to use violence as a means to achieve justice is erroneous. This is because Socrates lived in a period when slavery was highly esteemed and when it was virtually impossible for someone to rise against the state with the purpose of abolishing it. In contrast, Thoreau, his abolitionist contemporaries, and society in general before the American Civil War were all aware of the fact that the end of slavery was near. With tensions being high in the North and in the South alike, it was only natural for the American society to have to undergo a violent process in order for abolitionists and slavery supporters to become conscious of their position in the country.One can go as far as to consider Socrates a hypocrite in thinking about a perfect society at the same time as he exploited the institution of slavery. In spite of the fact that Socrates would partly agree Thoreau in considering that slavery is immoral, the Greek philosopher would have trouble understanding and supporting John Brown's decision to resort to violence with the purpose of ending slavery.

Plato. "The Apology of Socrates."

Thoreau, Henry David. (1859). "A Plea for Captain John Brown."

Thoreau, Henry David.….....