Pride In Sophocles Oedipus The King

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a) In a philosophical context, hubris refers to foolish pride exhibited without requisite abilities. This concept is often seen in ancient Greek literature as the inherent failure of an epic hero. A boastful attitude leads to overconfidence and ultimately results in a decline of power.
Sophocles, who was an Ancient Greek tragedian, demonstrated this concept in his play Oedipus the King. Initially, Oedipus was a capable and attentive leader who listened to his people. However, as the story progressed, his own pride and stubbornness began to affect his ruling and resulted in a personal and political demise. Furthermore, the impact of hubris is not only limited to leaders, but to entire governing systems as well. This topic is presented …show more content…

It can be the overall subject as seen by Sophocles and Thucydides, or an underlying effect that contributes to the outcome of the story. This is demonstrated by Plato when he used Socrates in the Apology and Phaedo. The Apology is an ironic title as it is an account of the speech Socrates makes at his trial after being charged with the corruption of Athenian youth, among other things. However, Socrates speech is the opposite of an apology as he defends himself and his actions. After he is sentenced to death, Phaedo tells the story of Socrates’ final hours and the uncompromising mentality that he upheld. While Apology and Phaedo are not centered around hubris and decline, both stories feature aspects of Socrates’ pride and the persistent belief that he had the right to spread his philosophical ideas. Overall, Plato’s was right to support the philosopher-king as his recounts of Socrates establish the foundation of Western …show more content…

Plato and Aristotle were philosophers in ancient Greece who critically studied and later expanded on subjects such as ethics, politics, and science. Throughout the centuries, the majority of Plato’s literature survived while roughly 80% of Aristotle’s work was lost. Nonetheless, Aristotle’s contributions have been more influential in the development of philosophical thought, particularly in the field of science and logics. The works of both philosophers have significant historical value and established the foundation for modern philosophy. After studying under Socrates, Plato became a prominent philosopher in ancient Greece and later all throughout Europe. In the beginning, his work was heavily influenced by Socrates. Most of these works were written in the form of dialogues and incorporated the Socratic Method, or the process of asking questions to expand knowledge. As Plato grew older and became more confident in his own ability as a philosopher, he began to explore human and societal morality and virtue. It was during this period of his life that he wrote The Republic, which is a Socratic dialogue regarding Plato’s vision of a utopian