A WIDE CANVAS
THE GOSPEL OF SOCRATES
Gospels: Good for Whom?
'Gospel' is a word we associate with Christianity, and the New Testament. However, it basically means good story or good news, or some ideas in which people believe strongly. When we say 'gospel truth', we mean something authoritative, unquestionable. In India we have the saying: 'what, is it a Veda vaak?'.
Hand-written Latin Bible, Belgium,15th century.
Public domain, wikimedia
Naturally, we ask, 'good for whom?'. It is meant to be good for the listeners, and the followers. But in history, as applied to the Christian usage, it has been good for the Church, for the clergy, for the establishment, more than for the common man. At one time, Pope was emperor, the church was the biggest land owner, and richest entity, while people at large were slogging. As Jomo Kenyatta, former president of Kenya once said, when the Christian priests came to Africa, they had the Bible (Gospel) and people had the land; in the end, people were left with the gospel, and the Church had the land! Among Christians themselves, Church establishment has enjoyed at the cost of the common man; as between Christians and others, Christians have enjoyed at the cost of other peoples : in Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia.
However, we should not overlook the contributions that Christianity made to the flowering of Western civilisation. As Alain de Botton has shown, even atheists have derived benefit out of religion, even if they did not believe in God or his Gospels. Much of the art, literature, music and even the basic ethics would not have been there in the West but for Christianity. The evil of Christianity- its violence, intolerance, suppression of other people, forced conversion, etc are due not to the gospel as such, but to the evil genius of those who undertook to spread it, and in the process suppressed or mispresented the 'good news'. In this sense, Christianity differs from Islam, in theory.
Scholars have said that the Quran prescribes 'Jihad' as a religious duty on its followers. And it is literally believed even today by its faithful followers. There is no such mandate in the Gospels ; but it is what the Church and its cadres have done, in practice, and are still doing. In this sense, non-Christians have every reason to distrust 'gospel'- any gospel. The historical experience for them has not been pleasant.
Sayyid Qutb, Islamic scholar, who maintains that Jihad is a permanent state, till the forces of Satan are totally eliminated!
VIOLENCE AND ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS
Perhaps, this is in the very nature of things. The Jewish Old Testament records that Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve,(who had themselves disobeyed God) killed Abel, his brother, out of jealousy. And this is at the beginning of their history!
Public domain.
The New Testament records the crucifixion of Christ- and this, and the subsequent 'resurrection' is the very foundation of Christianity, more than the 'good news' that Christ might have given. It is the manner of Christ's death that is the strength of doctrinaire Christianity- that he gave his life to save humanity of its sins (the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world), more than the nature of his teaching.
Compare this with the life and message of the venerable Buddha! The Buddha taught us that we have to conquer ourselves- our baser instincts, centred round desire, and not the world outside! Once we understand that the world causes suffering (duhkka), who will desire to rule the world? This is the 'good news' that Nachiketas had understood earlier, and so rejected the offer of Yama of a long life, riches, rulership, etc! (Kathopanishad)
DEATH OF SOCRATES AND THE RISE OF PHILOSOPHY
In the Western tradition, if their religious history began with murder and violence, their philosophic quest also begins with a death- death of Socrates, by drinking hemlock, as directed by the city council. (He could have been crucified,too, but they chose to award him the gentler form of death sentence.They also offered him a choice: he could pay a fine and avoid death, but he chose to stick to his principles and refused to pay the fine.) Being West, where the sun sets, it seems they will rise only when a life sets!
It is said that not much is known about the details of the life of Socrates. What we know comes from the writings of Plato, Xenophon and others. But we know enough from these to form an idea of his character and teachings. He did not himself write anything, but enough of his words have been recorded by Plato, and Xenophon, his students. There are some who even doubt whether Socrates was a real person, or a mere figure invented by Plato! But there is no doubt that he existed and his name was famous even among the old authorities.
Plato gives enough details of his family: he was not from an aristocratic family; his father was Sophroniscus, a stone mason; mother was Phaenarete. His wife was Xanthippe, a shrew and there are stories about her actions. Socrates had three sons, the eldest of whom, Lamprocles, was 15 when Socrates died. He had learnt the craft from his father and probably worked as a mason, before taking up philosophy full time. According to Plato, he was not charging anything for his teaching, and so could not support the family- a point which made his wife complain that he was neglecting his family! It seems in all cultures, wisdom and wealth are always distinct!
Tiruvalluvar says in Kural 374:
The world is always divided into two distinct categories, caused by destiny: the pursuit of wealth, and the attainment of wisdom.
Socrates lived a very active life, participating in the life of the community. He even served in the Peloponnesian War. He was not sitting in a cave or in ivory tower, but went round the city, mixed with the people, engaging them in conversation. He was reportedly ugly in looks ( like our own Vyasa); he was short and stout, with a flat nose and eyes which gave the appearance that he was always staring! Aristophanes made fun of this aspect in his works, as the Greeks were votaries of beauty- but Socrates had a different idea of beauty. For him, real beauty came from the good life, not mere physical appearance.Probably, such thinking influenced Plato into the belief that there is an ideal Form behind all worldly categories!
What were the charges for which Socrates was awarded the death sentence? They were that he was not respecting the ancient gods of the city, and introducing his own, and that he was corrupting the youth. At the trial, which has become famous as a defining moment of our civilisation, he refuted both the charges, and effectively. This is recorded in detail by both Plato and Xenophon, in separate works, both named 'Apology.' They record the same events but from differing perspectives- showing that different students absorb the same teachings or interpret the same things in different ways. Plato was a philosopher, Xenophon was not.
It seems from the proceedings that the trial was not based on merits of the case, or was not instituted solely to find out truth or render justice, but was brought on by the political enemies of Socrates to settle some score. The political fortunes of Athens had changed with the defeat of Athens by Sparta and somehow Socrates had been considered undesirable. However at the trial Socrates seems to have angered the jury by not being apologetic but defiant, even saying that instead of punishing him the city should honour him for his services! The Council (of 500) was not in a mood to listen and passed the verdict of death 280-221.. Also it shows how even with such numbers, democracy is actually mob rule. His friends offered to bribe the guards and help him escape, but Socrates refused, saying he was not afraid of death as the soul was immortal, and that he loved Athens so that he could not think of exile.
Socrates accepting the cup of poison cheerfully!
by Walter Crane, Wikimedia commons.
SOCRATES: MESSAGE AND THE METHOD
There are two aspects of Socratic legacy: his message and his method.
The message of Socrates is, like all great Truths, both simple and direct. He asked: what is the right way to live? People desire attainment of happiness, but it comes only from wisdom. The highest wisdom is to 'Know Yourself'. This knowledge is both caused by and results in a life of virtue- what he termed 'the good life'- the right way of life. In life, we have to make choices, but it is only wisdom that will lead us to make the right choices that bring us happiness. So, happiness can be found only as a result of an ethical life. It is virtue based on wisdom which thus helps us solve the practical problems of life. Such a happy person is dear even to the gods. "And what kind of person is more loved by the gods than the one who is most happy", Xenophon records in Memorabilia, describing Socrates.
It is important to note this. According to Socrates, ethics is not derived from some code, given by God or some high authority. It is derived from pure wisdom, and thus rational, not theological. We should subject our lives to a critical examination, and lead a life of virtue based on wisdom, derived from self-knowledge. Once we know what is right, that is what we should do: knowledge is virtue."The unexamined life is not a life worth living for a human being", said Socrates (Apology,38a)
The insistence upon wisdom as the foundation of happiness, and self-knowledge as the highest wisdom is the very reflection of our Upanishadic thought: one has to be at peace with oneself, before he can find or enjoy happiness outside. And Atma Jnana- knowledge of the self is the only true knowledge and foundation of all wisdom: knowing which everything is known, as the Upanishads say.
The Socratic method is not laborious instruction. Socrates proceeds by arguments or questioning- what is called "dialogue". He engages people in conversation, goes on questioning and examining their own statements. Ultimately, people realise that their initial assumptions, on the basis of which they talked are all wrong! This again is a feature we come across in the Upanishads.
This is a tremendous method. Socrates does not assume that he teaches from a superior position- from a position of knowledge. He says famously that he does not know- but unlike us, he knows that the does not know! That is his strength. So in the end of the dialogue, when we realise that our arguments have been wrong, our assumptions were not right- this comes as a revelation, not as a doctrine! Socrates thus sets us thinking- ie examining our assumptions, and the life which is based on them! Thus Socrates has taught us, without teaching us any theory or dogma! Socrates is thus a Guru who initiates with his dialogues, not an acharya who instructs us with his theories!
The basis of this method is what is called 'turn around'. If we know we do not know, we can be taught. But if we think that we know, we will not be inclined to learn further. So, Socrates makes us realise , by ourselves, based on our own words, that we may not know, after all! He does not say: here, you fool! You do not know! He leads us gently to examine our position, our thoughts and presumptions.
Those who are already wise no longer love wisdom- ie engage in philosophy, whether they are gods or men.Nor do they love it who are so ignorant that they are bad, for no bad or stupid man loves wisdom. There remain only those who have this bad thing, ignorance, but have not yet been made ignorant or stupid by it. They are conscious of knowing what they don't know. The upshot is that those who are as yet neither good nor bad love wisdom, while all those who are bad do not..
Socrates in Lysis, 218b.Plato: Complete Works. Ed. John M.Cooper. Hackett, 1997.
This is a stunning reflection of what the Buddha had said a century earlier. It is said that on his Enlightenment, the Buddha's first impulse was to continue in that blessed state of bliss. But then he thought of the world.
Some there are who are clear-sighted and do not need my teachings, and some whose eyes are clouded with dust who will not heed it though given; but between these two there are also some with but little dust in their eyes, who can be helped to see; and for the sake of these I will go among mankind and teach.
From: Arthur Osborne: For Those With Little Dust, Part II. Sri Ramanasramam.1990.
Thus, in the ancient tradition, they knew that not every one was fit for or interested in receiving the highest teachings. In the Hindu tradition, it was for the 'Mumukshu' ie those who have risen above the world, and seek Liberation. Even Christ told people 'not to cast pearls before swine'.But organised Christianity and Islam have taken it upon themselves to 'convert' the whole earth!
ONE TRUTH
So, in the Socratic method, the initial turn around is followed by reflection or meditation. This too is based on a deep insight. It may be stated thus:
- There is a Truth behind the world or phenomena.
- This Truth is knowable.
- This Truth can be discovered.
This is the basis of what we can call the spiritual life, as different from the merely religious life. If there is a Truth, and it is knowable, does it not become the duty of a rational, sane man, to discover it? And once discovered, does it not become his obligation to follow it?
In the Socratic view, this Truth is universal- it governs the whole universe.In that sense, it is One- ie everything in the Universe falls into place in a great harmony in the light of or on the basis of this Truth. Corresponding to that, there is an inner harmony in our being. The correspondence between the inner harmony and the greater, universal harmony ( microcosm and macrocosm) is the basis of wisdom, happiness, virtue, or truth, beauty, goodness. Discovering it and living in the light of it is the good life!
There is meaning in Socrates choosing the youth to convey this message. They are the future citizens, and they can be moulded, before 'the establishment' claims them! The older generation is too deeply entrenched in its own thought patterns to be persuaded otherwise. This unfortunately proved his undoing- it gave a handle to opponents to say he was corrupting the youth!
WISDOM IS KNOWLEDGE OF SOUL
The whole Socratic message can be summed up in these words:
Man requires Happiness, but seeks the pleasures of the world.
Man requires Wisdom, but seeks information or knowledge of the world.
Man needs Wisdom, but pursues wealth.
Painting by Jean Baptiste Regnault,1791. Public domain.
Socrates points out that people strive to accumulate wealth to pass on to their children, but do not strive to make the children better!
For Socrates, this Wisdom (Sophia in Greek is a word with deep meanings.) is related to our soul.He said:
The command that we should know ourselves means that we should know our souls
Alcibiades,I,130e.
Socrates believed that this wisdom was not a mere acquisition or possession, but something which cleansed us, renewed and restored us (katharsis). He said:
....this is not the right exchange to attain virtue- to exchange pleasures for pleasures, pains for pains, and fears for fears, the greater for the less, like coins, but that the only valid currency for which all these things should be exchanged is wisdom. With this we have real courage and moderation and justice, and in a word,true virtue......in truth, moderation and courage and justice are a purging away of all such things, and wisdom itself is a kind of purging or purification.
It is likely that those who established the mystic rites for us were not inferior persons but were speaking in riddles long ago when they said that whoever arrives in the underworld uninitiated and unsanctified will wallow in the mire, whereas he who arrives there purified and initiated will dwell with the gods.
Phaedo, 69 bc
Thus, Socrates is very clearly enunciating here that wisdom is the foundation of virtue which not only leads to happiness here, but also takes care of the soul after death!
When one has led a virtuous life, devoted to the pursuit of wisdom, which purifies and makes one fit to live with the gods, when one knew that the soul is immortal, why should he fear death? So, Socrates refused to plead for a lesser penalty , or pay the fine, or escape into exile. He drinks the poisoned hemlock cheerfully and tells his friends with him then:
NOW, the hour to part has come. I go to die, you go to live. WHICH OF US GOES TO THE BETTER LOT IS KNOWN TO NO ONE EXCEPT THE GOD.
Apology,42aSocrates being given the hemlock cup.
Jacques Louis David, 1787
In the entire Western tradition or civilisation, if anything truly deserves the name Gospel, it is the teaching of Socrates.It is the unqualified, unmediated good news: Lead a life of virtue based on wisdom. You enjoy this world and the next.
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