Kicking The Fear

The fear of death is something that all of us human beings must come to terms with. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates incorporates one of his famous thoughts. “I do not think I know what I do not know”, with the reality that death comes for us all. Socrates makes more than a few enemies by proving to important and powerful people that they think they know things which they actually don’t. During his trial Socrates gives an example of this. “To fear death, gentlemen, is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know. No one knows whether death may not be the greatest of all blessings for a man, yet men fear it as if they knew that it is the greatest of evils.” 

If I explore how differently I would live my life without the fear of death, then I start to realize some things. I would be more willing to take physical risks if the occasion arose and I was asked to put my life on the line. But what would be important enough to give up my life for? Even with the fear of death I would die for things which I am passionate about such as family or religion. Once the fear of death is removed though, I start to relate to Socrates at a whole new level. I start to think of any right thing, or at least what I consider to be right, such as justice, truth, and love as worth dying for. Socrates gives an example of this very thing. “Wherever a man has taken a position that he believes is best…there he must I think remain and face danger, without a thought for death or anything else, rather than disgrace.” The idea of dying rather than suffering disgrace brings a new perspective into play. Why not let pride be your downfall? Socrates did that exact thing. If there is no fear of death, then the doors which could be opened are endless. 

Going deeper with the lack of fear of death, this could also be a bad thing. It is true that no one knows what awaits after death and we can’t prove death as good or bad. So, I pose this question: What if death is actually the greatest evil which so many people treat it as? Then we, without fear, would be throwing our lives away for trivial things such as pride and greeting death prematurely when we could have milked our lives for everything, they are worth by living to fight another day. 

Socrates will always be remembered for how he thought and how he died. I will now, after reading Plato’s Apology, question myself if I am ever feeling wise. Do I really know what I think I know? When it comes to the fear of death, I know I’m not about to do anything drastic or reckless though I truly do feel comfortable saying I would bravely meet death if it was for something I firmly believe in. Notice how I said “bravely.” To be brave implies the presence of fear. For the fear of death, even after analyzing this idea, is not something which is easily kicked.