Socrates and Oedipus: philosophical and tragic parallels

Philosophy

Socrates and Oedipus: A Comparison

In the book Tragedy and Philosophy, Walter Kaufmann (1992) describes Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex as a great tragedy that is built around Oedipus' search for the truth and self-knowledge. The play ends when he finally comes to realize just who he is.

Similarly, in the Apology, Socrates is also trying to learn the truth about himself as he seeks to prove the Delphi oracle's statement than Socrates is the wisest man. Socrates believed that, if this were indeed true, it was only because of his knowledge of himself. He said, "when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser...to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know" (Brickhouse and Smith, 21).

In Five Dialogues and Oedipus Rex, further similarities can be drawn between the two characters. Both Oedipus and Socrates have good intentions when it comes to improving life for greater mankind. However, both suffer terrible consequences as the result of their actions. Oedipus doesn't actually do anything to harm the people of his state. Rather, he becomes a public enemy when he discovers that he has killed his true father. Socrates does what he thinks is right to improve the situation of his state but the people don't see it this way. Both are punished for their actions, even though their intentions were to be loyal and good citizens of the state.

Socrates downfall was his focus on teaching the state's youth. However, when asked to explain himself, Socrates did not believe that he alone could have single-handedly corrupted the state's youth. He believed it was impossible for one man to even reach all of these children. In addition, he strongly felt that education could not corrupt people -- it could only make them stronger.

Socrates also alienated himself by insinuating that he did not share the people's belief in gods. He would only say that he does believe in divine beings and, if divine beings were indeed gods, then he must believe in the gods. This was not enough for the judge and jury.

Even when presented with the opportunity to escape from prison and his imminent death, Socrates refused to defy the wishes of his people. He strongly believes that good citizens should obey the commands of his state, thus refusing to even consider a way out of his grim situation.

Oedipus had a similar state of mind when it came to obeying the rules and laws of his state. When the Sphinx threatened the city, Oedipus was the only one who defended the city. He prided himself on being a king that put the needs of his people above his own, struggling to keep his own feelings under wrap and focus instead on what his people needed. This desire to help the people led him to seek a cure for the plague, which was destroying people in masses. He sent Creon to Delphi, Apollo's place of revelation, to find out what could be done to save the city. Creon was told that the state must avenge the death of the former king Laios. After doing a little sould-searching, Oedipus learns that he was the killer of Laios, who was his father.

Oedipus takes full responsibility for the crime. "Citizens and alien alike must never shelter me or speak to me," he said. "I must be shunned by all. And I myself pronounced this malediction upon myself" (Sophocles, 42).

Like Socrates, Oedipus is visited by a friend in prison, who urges him to consider escape. His desire to protect his citizens and obey the laws prevents him from doing so. In the story, he is executed, reaching his goal to save his people from the plague.

While the two stories are very different in plot, there are many similarities. Both men have a similar outlook on truth and loyalty, and both are essentially good men. They suffer similar struggles in life and similar outcomes in death. The stories are very powerful, as they show incredible strength and conviction in the two characters. However, the authors of the stories used these characteristics to paint Socrates and Oedipus as tragic men because their beliefs ended in death.