Question

. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates says that “a good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death” (41c). Explain what Socrates means and offer your own critical response.  

Answer 1

In the conclusion of his trial, Socrates is noted to have stated the given quote to highlight his moral innocence over and above the Greek laws.

Knowing very well the adamence of the law regarding his trial and punishment, Socrates highlights that he would continue to bear the standard of goodness despite the bodily harm which may come as a result. For Socrates, ‘goodness’ or a moral judgement emanates form the will to an idea. Sometime, an idea, in this case the idea of "Good", proves to be of a greater worth than ones own well-being, for Socrates, his own life sentence became a secondary concern when posited against the moral project of defending his ideas.

Thus, Socrates points out that it is not the goodness that has become a problem in this case. Rather, it was the people who were opposed to the goodness that emerged as the problem.