The Proseuché: The Prayer of Socrates

Socrates greets Theophilus on a morning walk to the temple. Socrates is going to the temple to "think with the Gods." Theophilus is returning from the temple after making an offering to the Gods for his daughter to get well. When Theophilus hears that Socrates is going to the temple to "think with the Gods," Theophilus is amused and casually asks why Socrates uses that phrase. A conversation ensues that traverses subjects related to how we might hear the voice of God, the distinctions between what we know and what we believe, our understanding of the divine, the types of prayers and the extent to which our prayers are answered, and how our hopes might be related to our prayers.

Theophilus is a long-time servant of the Gods and professes to know as much as any man can know of the Gods. During the conversation, Theophilus is offended when Socrates suggests that Theophilus' prayer of request to the Gods to end his daughter's illness might be presuming to ask the Gods to "change their godly minds," and that Theophilus' prayers of thanks might be like "putting the Gods on trial like a criminal." Moreover, Theophilus is abrased and baffled when Socrates suggests that Theophilus' hope for his daughter to get well might not only be "gravely misplaced," but also like the hope of an atheist!

Such as it is for Socrates, Theophilus implies that the abrasive questions that Socrates poses portend why men like Meletus will ultimately condemn Socrates to death at trial. Nevertheless, Socrates continues his questioning until his final conclusion as to whether "thinking with the Gods" is the same as "praying to the Gods," as well as his summation regarding life, death, virtue, and happiness. A must read for all philosophers and lovers of virtue!

Author: Gregg R. Zegarelli Esq

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: Sep 24, 2022

Number of Pages: 100 pages

Binding: Paperback or Softback

ISBN-10: NA

ISBN-13: 9798353324959