Is Socrates right to claim that vengeance is always wrong Essay

Is Socrates right to claim that vengeance is always wrong - Essay Example Socrates explained what is a virtue and reasons why people do evil or bad things (Bensen, 1992). Socrates preferred to maintain his integrity and decided to answer to charges of impiety and corrupting Athenian youths (Colaiaco, 2013). Socrates was not angry with the jurors and his arguments in the apology demonstrated that death should not be used as deterrence to philosophy since no man has true knowledge of death. After listening to Crito, Socrates refuses to escape since he believes it would be unjust to his reputation and those of his children. Thesis statement: Socrates is right to claim that vengeance is wrong. Socrates debates on whether it is right or wrong to injure or harm another person in retaliation for wrongs committed. According to Socrates, vengeance is wrong and escaping would amount to retaliation thus his escape would be wrong (Bensen, 1992). Socrates goes further to argue that one must never willingly commit wrongs notwithstanding the circumstances (Weiss, 1998). In addition, one must not do wrong even when wronged and therefore vengeance is wrong. Socrates Elenchus clearly argues against Homeric traditions that justice should be repaid by harming enemies. Socrates argues for a good life by comparing a healthy body with a healthy soul and claiming that life would not be worthy living if the higher part of man is destroyed by injustice (Crito 47e). Accordingly, Socrates points out doing wrong or vengeance is evil and dishonourable thus human beings must not do any wrong. Socrates clarifies that doing injustice is even worst for oneself than being subjected to it (Gorgias 469c- 522e) since those who do injustice make their souls worse. In this argument, Socrates demonstrates that if one treats you unjustly, will leave your soul unaffected thus this is a less harm compared to the harm that the unjust man suffers himself. I conquer that Greek precept of aiding one’s friends and harming one’s enemies amount to