Philosophy. Comapare Socrates and Thoreau's methods, beleifs. Show Essay

Philosophy. Comapare Socrates and Thoreau's methods, beleifs. Show where they are the same and where and why they differ - Essay Example Socrates was more specific about the commitments of a human towards the state (Socrates). He has argued that the state has the most importance than anything in the world. Socrates believed that the people should work for the government and their self interests are not much important when compared to the interests of the government or the state. Even the death was considered of least importance while fighting to protect the interest of the sates as per Socrates. On the other hand, Thoreau was not much adamant about the commitment of the people towards the government or the state (Richardson). He believed that the people have another life apart from the life for government. In his opinion, doing everything as the government directs may not be a wise act for the people. In his opinion, the governments are responsible for so many evil things in the society like slavery and wars and there is no point in sacrificing the life for the interests of the government. Thoreau believed that a person’s life has lot of dimensions and its commitment towards the state is only one among them. Socrates believed that the government is responsible for giving better living standards to the people whereas Thoreau believed that the government denying it. Both Socrates and Thoreau have some similarities also in their views. Both of them believed in morality. Thoreau said that people, if left to their own ends will act justly, and should be treated accordingly by the law (Richardson). Socrates also said the same thing that "no one wants to commit injustice" for its own sake, many people end up doing so anyway (Socrates). Socrates argued that the people have a moral responsibility to abide by the state laws in response to the protection provided to the people by the states. Socrates has given more importance to the consciousness of in individual while obeying the laws. He has pointed out that the people can avoid laws if they feel injustice in it. Thoreau also more or less