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Similarities between Socrates and Buddha

There is a lot of similarities that can be noted between the lives of Socrates and Buddha. Both philosophers were born in families of arts and engaged in their parents’ arts before abandoning their parents to embark on their personal conviction and both died of poisoning. The two scholars went on to have three similar areas of thinking, convictions and teachings. First, both Buddha and Socrates were advocates of simple and humble lives. They taught against much accumulation and sophistication but instead seemed to embrace humility. Secondly, they taught of good morals and exalted these morals to be the determinants of the value of man. According to the two, values were the building blocks of man and the basis for his success or failures. Additionally, the two thinkers and philosophers pursued and taught of enlightenment as good thing (Smith & Whitaker, 2016). Socrates taught this through the allegory of the cave.

Socrates and the Eightfold Path

Correct View

It would be easy for Socrates to have the right thinking of the world based on reality and not based on prior perceptions or the interpretation of others. Socrates proved this with his allegory of the cave.

Correct Intention

Socrates was committed to seeing what is right was followed and discussed despite the unpopularity of the already existing erroneous perception (Taylor, 2019). He would be comfortable with this step given his choice of death due to an allegation of corrupting the youth. He emphasized this truth even if it cost his life.

Correct Speech

Like all the right thinkers of his time Socrates had a regard for persuasive speaking and restraint from utterances that would result in hate and disintegration of the people. He would therefore find the step easy to conform to.

Correct Action

Socrates would have an easy time with this step. It entails doing the right thing to all who are around us and embarking on a morally correct course (Taylor, 2019). He already demonstrated this when he chose to inform the youth even when it was alleged that he was correcting them.

Correct Livelihood

Just like historians note of him, the life of Socrates and his livelihood was in line with the success of all. At no time was his livelihood limiting to others and this is the spirit of the teachings of Buddha.

Correct Effort

This implies that one has to have a zealous determination towards their course (Taylor, 2019). Socrates would find this easy to accomplish as he had already done this throughout his life.

Correct Mindfulness

Socrates was himself an advocate of the right thought as it gave life a meaning for all. He would therefore engage in meaningful thought and consequently fulfill this requirement.

Correct Concentration

The philosopher, Socrates would find this easy to adhere to as throughout his life, he put his thoughts and energy on one course, encouraging the right thinking for the prosperity of all.

References

Smith, D., & Whitaker, J. (2016). Reading the Buddha as a Philosopher. Philosophy east and west, 66(2), 515-538.

Taylor, C. C. W. (2019). Socrates: A very short introduction (Vol. 27). Oxford University Press, USA.