Socrates on Staying Smart

In Plato’s dialogue Laws he mentions the three most important things a person must do. The first is to abide by the laws of your God. The second is to always be improving your mind. The third, to keep yourself in top physical shape.

The April 2011 post addressed why staying in shape is important. We now take liberties with that blog post and change it to what Socrates might have said about improving your mind. So here it goes.

One day Socrates noticed that his friend was stupefied and not as sharp as he once was and said;

“Epigenes it looks like you are in need of mental training”

His friend said that he wasn’t a student anymore. Socrates replied that even if Epigenes wasn’t a student he should still consider a life of constant learning. It’s the lack of mental fitness that causes men to lose their drive for life and come upon destitute times behaving disgracefully by living the life of vice and ignorance. Of the studious and mentally fit he said;

“And yet what has to be borne by anyone who takes care to keep his mind in good condition is far lighter and far pleasanter than those things subjected to the ignorant and mentally decrepit person”

“the result of constant education and mental training are the direct opposite of those that follow from ignorance and mental stagnation. The mentally fit are quick, and many as a consequence perform great deeds in the community; many help friends and do good to their country and for this they earn gratitude, glory and honor that leads to a better life and provides their children a better means of achieving a livelihood”

Socrates says that just because study and education are not compulsory for a citizen one shouldn’t make this the excuse for being a whit less careful in attending to ones mind. No activity in life will be hindered or hurt by keeping your mind in the best possible shape.

“For in everything that we do the mind is useful; and in all uses of the mind it is of great importance to be in as high a state of mental fitness as possible”

“It is a matter of common knowledge that grave mistakes may often be traced to poor mental fitness. And because the mind is in a bad condition, loss of memory, depression and discontent often attack the it so violently as to drive out whatever knowledge it contains”

Socrates said that whoever is in great mental shape is likely to experience the opposite of these negative effects. They will experience improved memory, less depression and a happier life. He says;

“Surely a person of sense would submit to anything, like study and mental fitness, so as to obtain a well functioning mind and a pleasant, happy life”

Socrates concludes by saying;

“It is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of person you may become by developing your mental capabilities and bodily strength to their highest limit”