Modern Day Socrates?

     There is no public figure in modern times that can be related to Socrates.  Challenging other public figures may seem like it, on talk shows and such.  However, these hosts do not do it for their own enjoyment and for learning, but instead do it mainly for the entertainment of others.  This is the main difference between modern day "philosophers" and Socrates. 
     Socrates taught by example, with followers to observe said methods.  But Socrates most likely would have continued even if there was no audience, for he had no deadline, or money to make by doing this. On the other hand, not many hosts would be willing to do so if not for the incentives of pay and fame.  If they were, the humor would not be shown so blatantly to the observers.
     People who are not publicly known are more likely to have Socrates’ ideals.  I do not know any people like this, and have never met one.  I don't think there is anyone of our time period that I know, though I think there may be someone like that out there, doing it in private, with perhaps very few to no followers.

The Unexamined Life is Still Worth Living

     People always think that no matter what, they can never be truly satisfied or happy.  They must always have something more than they already have.  In the viewpoint of some, life must be always used for a purpose.  But is life which is spent simply living not also life?  Acceptance that life will not always fulfill your wants is important to know.  Why question something that you yourself only have the answer to?  If you cannot think of a purpose for which you live your life, think of the reasons you were given life in the first place. 

     The parents, who had you, were (hopefully) in such a state of happiness as to want to bring another into the world to experience it.  If you can keep looking forward, to try and achieve and find the feelings that they had at one point.  Their views towards life were so great at one point.  You don’t need to question why you are alive, but rather what you will do with your newfound glorious life. 

     Why would anyone need to question their life?  Well, I’m not going to say that it I am completely unable to relate.  Some people have doubts in their life, and are unable to go through anything without having to rely on something.  Life is made, simply for the purpose of living.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with telling yourself that it’s fine, just to be the way you are, and to live the way that you live.  As long as you can be happy in life, how it’s done doesn’t need to be questioned. 

Eulogy

For many years now, Eric Klein has done things interesting, inspiring, legendary even. Now, after an incredible act of bravery and martyrdom, he has passed on. Before his death, even in his short life, Eric was able to meet new people, and forever change their lives. Of the lives he changed, mine was overwhelmingly so. When I began to live life as he did, with passion and with no hatred, I saw the world differently. He really could see the beauty in things, and taught me to do the same.


The last time I saw him, was about an hour before his death. He never said “goodbye”, only “see you later” because he had no intention of having his life shortened. He was expecting something pleasant, and truly appreciated the things that life had to offer him. However, what he put before him, were two other’s lives. He had no hesitancy, when he ran down that alley to his death.

Now, I was not the one to find my good friend, it was the two that he had helped that had called the police. Unfortunately, they had made it too late, and the criminals had already made it off. The older couple told their side of the story: how Eric had dashed in with no hesitancy when a group of young men began to harass the couple. He had bravely told them to back off, though the men clearly had no intentions of doing so. They had reported that when the men told Eric that it was their idea of “fun”, that he had suggested that he took their place instead.

With every recognition of what he was doing, and knowing that he would not have fulfilled any of his own dreams, he stepped in to protect others. Eric Klein is truly a treasured friend of mine, and will surely be in my, as well as others, memories and prayers forever.