Entry #87

                  So far I have enjoyed the book. Although the language is extremely out dated, it isn't too difficult to follow along. It is sort of like reading Shakespeare, it takes a few tries but once you get use to it you can pull a lot from the language. I enjoy the challenge of trying to interpret Plato's philosophies, they are sometimes so abstract, I like having to fill it in with my own thought process. How I think a thousand year old Greek philosopher would speak, and act and think himself. That what makes this an enjoyable read. It also gives insight into the culture at the time he spoke these dialogues. God was widely accepted, and it was punishable to speak ill of the gods. They had courts set up where anyone could judge anyone else in front of a bunch of civilians. The world was a completely different place.

Entry #86

               "man... knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing. And so I go about the world obedient to the god, and search and make inquiry into the wisdom of any one," (pg. 17)

I highlighted this quote because I really like what Plato is saying. A man knows that him alone, with his own wisdom is actually worth nothing if you don't have someone to share it with. I mean sure being quite wise can help you personally, but eventually you would want to talk to other people, and learn about there wisdom. Plato goes out and asks philosophical questions to random civilians just to learn about their wisdom, and other peoples opinions, which personally I admire. People these days have stopped caring so much about others minds, and how other people think and only care about them selves. Well the only way we can learn about how other people see and interpenetrate things, is if we ask them. That is all we have to do- ask.

Entry #85

          It is hard sometimes to remember that these words on this page come from 400 B.C. Platos thoughts and views and philosophies sometimes seems so modern it's scary. In the very beginning when he is addressing the accusation of taking peoples money for teaching them his philosophy he simply replies"
        "Although, if a man were really able to instruct mankind, to receive money for giving instruction would, in my opinion, be an honour to him," (Pg. 9) I highlighted this quote because it says a lot about our society today. A lot of foreshadowing occurs here, which is a bit frighting because Plato has been dead for thousands of years. He says that to be paid to instruct mankind would be an honour, isn't that exactly what teachers get paid for? I mean to think back then, that receiving money for exchanging knowledge was a punishable thing is a bit mind bending. The culture and values were so different back then, people thought philosophy and instructions should be a god given thing, something that people can share with one another for free. It shouldn't be something you look to be compensated for, but rather just an exchange of one human beings ideas to another. However Platos point is still extremely valid, to receive money for instructing man kind, for just giving instructions would be a very honorable thing. In class we learned what the word honorable means, the dictionaries definition at least- and it is said honor is holding something or someone with the highest respects. To Plato receiving money for a job well done would in his book, be something held to the highest respects. Now is that to say in society today, receiving money for teaching is held to the highest respects? I feel as if the value of education has gone down hill so much since to beginning of language, there isn't much honor in any of it anymore.

Entry #84 - Dialogues of Plato

                   I decided to abandon 13 Reasons Why, it is not because of the writing or the story, but simply because I would like to spend my last month in school reading something more challenging. So I have chose to read the Dialogues of Plato, written by the famous philosopher from ancient Greece- Plato. The first chapter is titled Apologies, and I can begin to imagine why. Plato never actually states where they are, why they are there or what they are doing in a clear manor- but I think I was able to piece the language together. I believe Plato is in front of a court of Athenian men, being accused by Meletus (his former friend) for poising the youth, teaching atheism, and taking money for teaching others. He pleads his case both intelligently, and proudly, Plato never grovels or actually admits to doing any wrong- and rightfully so. I enjoy how Plato argues, he addresses what he is being accused of and intelligently combats the remark with witty questions, and smart supported evidence. He tends to craft sentences so well, that he can get his opponent to actually admit their own thinking was wrong. This was a very smart man, and his argumentative techniques are often used now a days in courts just like the one he was in. Plato makes a lot of very valid points, and so far I have really enjoyed the book. I can't help but highlight passages during the reading that really stand out to me, and that show Plato's actual opinion.