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Essay / A comparison between the life goals and missions of Saint Augustine and Socrates
The most interesting historical figures who ever lived are Socrates and Saint Augustine who were at the center of spiritual life in ancient times. Their works are still the most influential in the world. Augustine and Socrates focused on life with God, the metaphysical analysis of time, the ethical analysis of evil, and the examined life. Certainly, other people, including Christians, had expressed these things before, but Augustine and Socrates provided an intellectual narrative and a set of reasoned arguments to support these ideas. At that time, it was a kind of philosophical revolution. Every revolution needs heroes capable of making sacrifices. So these heroes were Socrates and Saint Augustine, who continue to inspire people around the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Many people describe the word “mission” as an important goal or goal accompanied by a strong conviction. On the other hand, mission is an often used word but it is not easy to find a clear definition that describes it, let alone find one that everyone can agree on. In “The Apology,” Socrates clearly describes his mission: “I am that gadfly whom God has attached to the State, and all day long... arousing, persuading, and reproaching... You will not easily find another like me . » Socrates compares himself to a gadfly and compares society to a horse. It is a stinging insect that wakes livestock from their sleep. Socrates says that the people of Athens sleep and neglect all the injustices happening around them. His job is to wake up the Athenians and show them what is really going on. This is the push people need to act and bring justice to their country. The gadfly metaphor was true to Socrates and his role in Athenian society. Socrates declares that his role as a social gadfly is not for himself, but for the good of the Athenian people. “And now, O Athenians, I will not argue for my own sake, as you think, but for yours, so that you may not sin against God by condemning me, who am his gift to you. » According to Socrates, part of the reason for his arrest was because the politicians in the Athenian government did not like Socrates telling the people about the corruption he was trying to hide. If the people know what is really happening within their government, they will be able to bring justice to Athens. This is why society needs a gadfly like Socrates. But on the other hand, Saint Augustine does not mention his mission in the “Confessions” but we can read it in Enchiridion: Of faith, hope and love “But we must know the causes of good and evil in things, at least as far as men can do it in this life, filled as it is with errors and distress, in order to avoid these errors and distresses. We must always aim for that true felicity where misery does not distract attention, where no error misleads.” (p 27) Augustine made a long and difficult journey from childhood faith through Manichaeism, skepticism and Platonism to a mature faith with rich experience. He believes in God with all his heart and encourages us to believe in him too. He is the source of life, the pure form, the highest beauty. God is the center of Augustine's life. When he was young, he searched with a restless heart for meaning in life. Augustine says, “He who enters into you enters into the joy of his Lord, and will have no fear, and will attain excellence in the Excellent.” » He considers his mission to be a servant of God. Augustinewants to praise God by developing and using God-given talents according to God's Will; and for the greater glory of God. It understands the human as a person possessing an indivisible personality, endowed with intelligence and free will, created in the image and likeness of God. Each person is a special closed world in which there is a struggle between good and evil, spirit and flesh, spirit and sensitivity. Furthermore, Socrates was convinced that he had been chosen by God. He said, “Make sure this is what the god commands me to do, and I think there is no greater blessing for the city than serving the god.” For I am only persuading the young and the old among you not to care for your body or your wealth preferably or as strongly as for the best possible state of your soul. According to Socrates, people should not spend their lives thinking about their career, their money and their intellectual perfection. He believes that the transfer of knowledge from one person to another is impossible and unnecessary. True knowledge is contained in a hidden form in the human soul and everyone should bring it to the light of consciousness. Likewise, man, according to Augustine, was created by God, who gave him body, soul, spirit and free will. Man's primary duty is to follow God's commandments and be like Christ. He said: “Therefore we must return to you in humble piety and let you cleanse us from our evil ways and be merciful to those who confess their sins to you, and hear the groans of the prisoners and loosen us from the chains that we we forged. for ourselves. » According to Augustine, the main virtues are knowing how to overcome selfishness and learning to love your neighbor. Socrates says: “I said to myself: I am wiser than this man; none of us probably knows anything really good, but he thinks he has knowledge, when he does not, while I, having no knowledge, do not think I have it. On the one hand, this principle was necessary to combat the sophists, criticizing their teachings and statements about learning the truth. On the other hand, the adoption of this principle was intended to encourage people to expand their knowledge and understand the truth. You can study the laws of nature, the movement of the stars, but you don't have to go that far: find yourself and then, thanks to the knowledge of things, you can find the truth. For Socrates, man is above all his soul. And the “soul” for him is the mind, the ability for critical thinking and consciousness. When he opened his “narrow path” as a Christian, Augustine knew the most important thing: God is Love. God's love is immeasurable for man. He clearly says: “But you are the life of souls, the life of lives, having life in you and never changing, O life of my soul.” Without this mutual love, the feeling of life disappears; there is only emptiness, pain and death. Man remains free to choose to accept or refuse the ultimate manifestation of divine love. He developed a deep spirituality in which love is central. God is also the most important object of cognition and perception. God brings light into the human spirit and helps people find the truth. Everything exists thanks to God and every good thing comes from God. It is only the appearance that people derive their knowledge from the world; in fact, they are deep within their own minds. A person cannot be a creator, he only sees divine ideas. He believed that God not only created the world, but also continued to work now and would work in the future. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized item now..