(1) How did Socrates become a philosopher, (2) how did Socrates end up going to trial, (3) why did his adversaries want to sentence him to death, (4) and what were his two arguments on why death was not a bad thing? (5) How did Socrates begat' the Greek philophers?
(1) Socrates began as a student of natural science, but was profoundly more interested in the pursuit of wisdom concerning human affairs through intellectual means and self-discipline. Through the development of his philosophical scholarship, he began to teach lessons based on what he had learned, and very similar to what modern media does with the democratic governments of today, he made traditional Greek' ethical teachings, laws, and customs transparent to his students, setting up forums of discussion with the youth of Athens.
(2 & 3)Many traditionalists scourged the practices of Socrates as unethical and almost treasonous, and brought him to trial, sentencing him to death. At this time, Socrates had lived a life, as he felt, that was complete. His point in life was that humans could live honest lives and that honor was more important than riches, popularity, or anything else superficial or worldly. In this, he felt not that he was guilty of any crime, but he had conducted himself exactly in the ways that had irked those sentencing him, and to refute those that brought him to trial would be refuting his life's goals. His point in arguing to the Jury was in order to show them that they were not doing him a disservice and he did not feel what they were doing was any sort of punishment, but could be considered a privilege.
(4)In Plato's writings about Socrates' trial in The Apology, he gives an idea about Socrates' philosophy on death, and why it could be considered a "good thing." His first Idea of Death was that it was just like sleep, a deep sleep not unlike a the restful sleep one would have where he or she would not remember the dreams of the night. He stated that if someone was to pick what type of sleep he or she would prefer, it would definitely be the kind where one would sleep so soundly, and he would "count it a gain For then it appears that eternity is nothing more than a single night."
His second Idea of Death was that it was a transition, or more like a journey into another life. This other life would be spent in the presence of all the people of old, and he questioned the council in explaining why this would be a good thing, better than the Earth they lived in by asking, "Would a journey not be worth taking if at the end of it, in the other world, we should be released from the self-styled judges of this world, and should find the true judges who are said to sit in judgment below? It would be an infinite happiness to converse with them, and to live with them, and to examine them."
(5) Even after a few hundred years after Socrates died, his teachings, and the widespread discipleship he acquired through a down lineage, Greek culture became famous for philosophical teachings. Because of this Socrates is often considered the Father/Grandfather of Philosophy, and as it developed in Greece, philosophy was still inclined toward alternatives that dealt with the needs and interests of the people in a deeper since, other than the outward administrative world.
The Epicureans, who taught quiet, inner satisfaction was the greatest good, the Skeptics, who did not take part in fruitless popular, stressful issues, and the Stoics, who believed humans were all part of a greater whole or family, all originated in some form from the early teachings of Socrates even though they evolved through the ever changing demography of the Mediterranean Empire,' and still have an effect on modern philosophy.
