DYING A HUNDRED DEATHS: SOCRATES ON TRUTH AND JUSTICE

Abstract

The well-known history of the life and death of Socrates continues to attract attention. This essay examines Socrates’ commitment to truth and justice. For Socrates, justice is inseparable from ethical commitment to truth. He gave up his life in the name of truth and justice. We will explore the meaning of the “internal”, “external” dichotomy of truth. The proffered meaning of this dichotomy of truth will be considered from the point of view of African philosophy. The relevance of Socrates to African philosophy will be discussed as a prelude to our argument that Socrates’ commitment to truth and justice is crucial for political leadership and vital for the realisation of justice in Africa and the world.