The Search for Truth
In ?Oedipus the King,? Oedipus?s relentless search for the cause of the city?s plague leads to his inevitable misery. Unknowingly, Oedipus had slain his father, married his mother, and was the cause of the city?s misfortune. Mid way through his search, Oedipus is warned that his search will only lead to his misfortune, but he decides to continue. His wife then begs him to leave the origins of his family unknown. These opposing characters represent some serious real life philosophical questions. Oedipus represents the need for a truthful life at all costs, and Jocasta believes ?Ignorance is bliss.?
?Let me go home. It will be easiest for us not to bear our destinies to the end if you will follow my advice. You?d to us of this your gift of prophecy? You talk as one who had no care, care for law, love for Thebes who reared you.? (Sophocles, p. 23) ?I will not be persuaded to let be the chance of finding, out the whole thing clearly.? (Sophocles, p.53) These two quotes basically sum up Oedipus. Although Tiresias advises Oedipus to just go home, Oedipus cannot accept this. He cares for his city and cannot live without the truth.
?With such clues I could not fail to bring my birth to light.
?I beg of you – do not hunt this out. If you have any care for your own life, what I?m suffering is enough.? (p.53) We can see from this quote just how different Jocasta is. She knows where this will lead Oedipus, and begs him to end his search to avoid the misery.
In order to really understand the severity of the real life conflicts they represent their characters must be understood. Oedipus is a very popular and noble man. He had saved the city from the Sphinx and was considered a hero to Thebes. His primary values are to serve his city and live a noble life. Part of living a noble life, he must live a truthful life. It is evident that he cares more for the city than of himself. Jocasta, on the other hand, cares more for Oedipus than for the city. She loves him, and would rather he live a lie than save the city. She is concerned more with happiness than truth.
This poses a very serious philosophical question; is it better to live a happy life or a truthful life? This happy life does not necessarily imply dishonesty, rather in this case Oedipus didn?t have to go such great lengths to discover the truth. He would have done nothing ?wrong? if he would have given up after Tiresias advised him to end his search. After all, Tiresias was a wise prophet. Or is it better to go such a great length to find a truth that will ruin your life?
To answer that question we must answer two other questions that precede it. What is the value of truth, and secondly what is more important the society or the individual? The second question may seem ridiculous, but its not. Every human has his own feelings, goals, and dreams that will make him happy. Is it so ridiculous to assume that people are selfish. Ideally speaking I think most would say that they would sacrifice for a society their personal life. But I don?t know how many would live a life of absolute misery for people who are not closer to him than he is to himself. Back to the first question, how is living a miserable truthful life better than ignorant bliss? Let?s say the city was not a factor, is it really worth misery to find out one?s origin? To take that question one step further; what?s the importance of obtaining knowledge that will take away from one?s happiness. After all, what is better than being happy. If you ask someone if they had any wish what would it be , you may get many different answers, but all these different wishes are perceived by the individual to add their happiness. Since ignorance is looked down upon in our society, it is hard for one even to ponder this question, but without that open mind you can only reach a superficial answer to these questions.
I will begin with the question of the individual and society. If someone believes that there is nothing else to life than personal happiness than Jocasta is right. Forget the city, Oedipus should have ended his search. But if there is something else to life-namely, an after life, than Oedipus is right. If this life is only something that leads you to something better, than happiness here is insignificant. It doesn?t even have to be a religious thing. It can be a belief that every one should live a moral life. Jocasta?s represents a very narrow scope on life.
In regards to the question of truth, we must weigh the meaning in our lives. If it is only to live in happiness, than how shallow are our lives. Only through the search for truth and knowledge and living with values can our life have any meaning. It may be that even then, with a moral and truthful life, it may be meaningless. If you look at how minuscule our lives are compared to the world and history, you can begin to understand, how anything we do may have no meaning. Yes, its depressing, but our only hope is through knowledge, truth, and values that we have any meaning. Even if these morals or quests for knowledge lead to unhappiness, you must believe it leads you to more meaning.
In conclusion, what these answers seem to all have in common is depressing. We cannot prove that our lives have any real meaning comparable to this huge world, we cannot prove that truth is better than happiness, or that we should care more for our society than ourselves. We can bring proofs as to why it is beneficial, but on a philosophical level, on a level of absolute ?truth? we cannot prove why this is right, but we must believe in these things because the alternative is physically and mentally destructive. If we don?t believe that Oedipus is right for sacrificing his happiness for Thebes, there would be absolute chaos. If there were no morals, we would just be a bunch of barbarians. If we didn?t believe that knowledge and truth added meaning to our lives than we would have no meaning, or hope. We can sympathize, but not justify Jocasta?s view because it would be detrimental to our world. Even though there is no absolute answer, it is not only logical, and beneficial to believe that Oedipus did the right thing.
Другие работы по теме:
As A Child Essay Research Paper As
As A Child Essay, Research Paper As a child, I was no exception. Three games that I especially enjoyed were Freeze Tag, Hide and Seek, and Truth or Dare. When I was little I used to play all three
Truth Essay Research Paper What evidence of
Truth Essay, Research Paper What evidence of truth do you need to except a clam, be it moral, religious, philosophical, ect. Do you distinguish between these, if so why and how?
Violent Trends In American Television 2 Essay
, Research Paper OedipaOedipa is in search of something that she doesn t want to find, and that is the truth about this WASTE system. She stumbles onto all these connections leading her to almost devote her life in the search for these answers. She finally has a revelation about what she has been doing, is she in search of the truth or in search for her sanity.
Religion 2 Essay Research Paper What is
Religion 2 Essay, Research Paper What is Religion? From the moment you take your first breath, you are besieged with strange sensory data pouring into your newborn self. You immediately begin to discriminate this data to find meaning in what would otherwise be a meaningless world. Sadly, we are not born enlightened, but born into what appears to be complete confusion.
Truth Or Lie Essay Research Paper January
Truth Or Lie? Essay, Research Paper January 31, 2000 Truth or Lie ….??? The truth should be told most of the time. I do not think however that lying should be put out of our mind because sometimes lying is the only option we have. Lying can be a good thing and a bad thing. Depending on the situation we should analyze it and find out if telling the truth would inflict more harm or lying would.
Truth Essay Research Paper Is there any
Truth Essay, Research Paper Is there any objective truth? Or must we finally accept that at bottom, in the end, philosophically speaking, there is no “real” or “objective” or “absolute” or “foundational” or “fact of the matter” or “right answer” truth about anything, that even our most confident convictions about what happened in the past or what the universe is made of or who we are or what is beautiful or who is wicked are just our convictions, just conventions, just ideology, just badges of power, just the rules of the language games we choose to play, just the product of our irrepressible disposition to deceive ourselves that we have discovered out there in some external, objective, timeless, mind-independent, world what we have actually invented ourselves, out of instinct, imagination and culture?
An Analytical Definition Of Philosophia Essay Research
Paper Men and women have tried for years to define Philosophy. One particularly interesting attempt was made by Martin Heidegger in the late 8th Century. He is reported as saying to his good friend and lover, Patrick Hurley, “Philosophy is one large search for the being-upon another and one long journey into the being-inside.” In this sense, Philosophy is best understand as a search.
Vdg Essay Research Paper Raintree
Vdg Essay, Research Paper Raintree’s website is dedicated to providing information and education on the important plants of the Amazon Rainforest, therefore this section is the most extensive. The Plant Database section is continuously under construction as we continue to add more rainforest plants which are under research.
Buddism Essay Research Paper Buddism is of
Buddism Essay, Research Paper Buddism is of the world`s fasting spreading religion. At this time there 313 million buddist in Asia. And aproximatly 500 thousand in North America. Buddism is the is not just a religion, but a way of life. It is a religion that helps the people that beleive in it to, search the deepest recuses
Bucky Ball Essay Research Paper There are
Bucky Ball Essay, Research Paper There are many bucky balls in the world . Possible Reasons You are not authorized to access the section you are trying to gain entry to. The permissions are not set correctly on that file/directory. Directory browsing may be turned off for that directory. You mistyped your password. [an error occurred while processing this directive] This page hosted by Hypermart, the world’s fasty if this renovation of the site has caused you any discomfort, but in the end, we hope that it will serve better.
Hot Lez Sex Essay Research Paper What
Hot Lez Sex Essay, Research Paper What is Truth and the best way to obtain it according to Ancient Scientists? In general, truth is anything that is correct of nature. The truth is in existence yet is not understood/known until it is uncovered. (Bruce Foltz WHGC lecture “What is truth?”)
Philosophy Truth Essay Research Paper Truth That
Philosophy: Truth Essay, Research Paper Truth! That is a word that philosophers have been arguing about for a good while! Truth is a state of mind free of error, a state of mind, which is an accurate reflection of things in existence, of the things about you. Truth is unchangeable; it is ageless and constant.
Internet Search Essay Research Paper I recently
Internet Search Essay, Research Paper I recently took a workshop on how to use the Internet. I thought that writing an essay on ?how to use the Internet? would help me to remember what I learned
Internet Search Engines Essay Research Paper The
Internet Search Engines Essay, Research Paper The internet was established as a back up for the military in case of a nuclear attack and all normal communication were cut off. By establishing this form of communication the chain of command would have a way to pass down information and important orders. The military abandoned this idea and gave it to the higher education system.
Oedipus Rex Essay Research Paper OedipusIn the
Oedipus Rex Essay, Research Paper Oedipus In the play ?Oedipus the King?, the main character, Oedipus tries intensively to figure out the truth about himself. There were many instances where Oedipus was looking for the truth but instead was led away from it. As Oedipus searches the city of Thebes for the truth, his ruin is ironically mentioned and foreshadowed in the narrative.
Value Of Honesty Essay Research Paper April
Value Of Honesty Essay, Research Paper April 23, 1998 Eng 121 Sec47 Definition essay The Value of Honesty Honesty and simply being truthful seem, on the surface, to be one and the same concept. However, though they are closely related in definition and are in fact listed as synonyms, there are fundamental differences between the two.
Pride And Prejudice Essay Research Paper A
Pride And Prejudice Essay, Research Paper A consistent and thought provoking novel, Jane Austen s Pride and Prejudice combines irony and wit to provide audiences with a comedic view of human complexity. The first paragraph in this novel consists only of a single sentence, but in the few words used, Austen is able to present a seemly strong and confident statement, only to use clever dialog and description to reveal its irony as the novel unfolds.
The Folly Of Logic The Freedom Of
Truth Essay, Research Paper Logic can very often restrain us from recognising the truth when it is presented to us. Allow me to begin by asking a question.
The Role Of Truth In Satyagraha -
– Gandhi Essay, Research Paper The Role of Truth in Satyagraha Gandhi developed a method of direct social action based upon principles of courage, nonviolence, and truth. This policy of nonviolent resistance and the search for this truth, is called satyagraha. Truth is soul or spirit; it is a major component in satyagraha.
The Allegory Of The
Cave Essay, Research Paper The Allegory of the Cave Plato gives rise to an interesting thought in The Allegory of the Cave . He suggest that people are to trusting in an unreliable society. Though he wrote this many years ago, it still applies today. It is ironic that people are willing to believe what the are told to be true, rather than search for the actual truth.
Oedipus Essay Research Paper The Excruciating Truth
Oedipus Essay, Research Paper The Excruciating Truth of Oedipus Oedipus is a man of integrity and passion whose goal in life was to seek the raw truth. Throughout the story, he constantly tried to obtain that
Religion Vs Astronomy Essay Research Paper Religion
Religion Vs Astronomy Essay, Research Paper Religion and science have always been in direct competition with one another. The ultimate goal of science is to prove the inexistence of God with facts, while the existence in God is simply based on belief and faith. While 95% of the people living on Earth believe in a superior being of some sort, some might say that religion clouds the minds of otherwise logical individuals and makes it impossible for them to pursue the truth of the Universe.
Silas Deane Essay Research Paper Mysterious Death
Silas Deane Essay, Research Paper Mysterious Death of Silas Deane The authors of “The Strange Death of Silas Deane: The Problem of Selecting Evidence.”, James West Davidson and Mark Hamilton Lytle explore the skill of
Socrates The Cave Essay Research Paper The
Socrates` The Cave Essay, Research Paper The cave I think that the idea of the cave and one man breaking lose from the chains is a good representation of the select few in the world. It takes great courage to break away from the group and venture out on your own. Once you find what you are looking for do you have a choice of weather or not you should go back to the group? If you found the one thing that could explain all of life?s mysteries would you keep it all to you?re self or would you want to share it with the world? Personally I would have to share it with at least one person.
Metaphysics Essay Research Paper METAPHYSICSTHEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
Metaphysics Essay, Research Paper METAPHYSICS THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE AND BEYOND The complex knowledge of metaphysics ? once comprehended ? is capable of helping an individual reach self-realization. Aristotle, a renowned man of thinking, conjured metaphysics to help understand the theories of intelligence – - it?s core of existence and where it comes from, truth, and cause.
Mythology Essay Research Paper What is mythology
Mythology Essay, Research Paper What is mythology? Mythology is like a fib that started many years ago in the olden days. It is still around due to people still continuing to use a myth as the truth. They seem to not know the difference between a myth and a legend. People these days are so naive it is ashame to know the rate of people that actually believe those myths.
Confessions Essay Research Paper Justin WTruth and
Confessions Essay, Research Paper Justin W. Truth and piety are two terms Augustine illustrates throughout his book Confessions. There are two types of truth: the truth found in God, but also the truth found in oneself. The truth found in and through God is quite obvious throughout the whole book. The other requires the reader to search deeply in the text.
Lao Tzu
’S Response Essay, Research Paper I am Lao Tzu. In response to Mr. Martin’s observation: “The mind cannot find truth by itself, but it sure as hell can find falsehood. The idea of stumbling through life with my heart open and my bull*censored* detector turned off doesn’t appeal to me.”
Legal Opinion For 8th Social Studies Essay
, Research Paper Legal Opinion A. I picked the side of New Jersey in the New Jersey vs. T.L.O case. The reason I picked that side is because the girl whas smoking on school grounds and she was not allowed to do that. Another reason is the teacher that found the girl smoking had the right to bring her to the Principals office, because she had a reason to.
Discovery Essay Research Paper Discoveries reveal things
Discovery Essay, Research Paper Discoveries reveal things that we often would prefer to keep hidden. Discuss the concept of Discovery and the effects it has on those who are involved. You must refer to your set text and supplementary material which you have studied in relation to this topic.
On Descartes Meditations I
& Ii Essay, Research Paper On Descartes Meditations I & II Descartes uses his Meditations on First Philosophy to consider one of philosophy s greatest questions: what is truth? He dedicates this writing to outlining a rational, logical process of determining the answer, as well as his own conclusions in the matter.
Truth And Belief Essay Research Paper Truth
Truth And Belief Essay, Research Paper Truth and Belief James is a believer in the pragmatic theory of truth. He draws a relationship between the good and the true. The true is not an separate entity from good, but is one of the species of good.
The Truth Is Out There Do We
Wish To Know? Essay, Research Paper The Heart of Darkness The search for truth and knowledge consumes us all at some point in our lives, but we don’t always find what we are looking for in Truth. We wish it to be definitive, but more than that, we search for it with the strong belief that we will find it and be pleased, pleasantly enlightened, and will live better lives for it.
Poem More Than You
’ll Ever Know Essay, Research Paper More Than You’ll Ever Know Words can’t express My feelings for you. I search for the right words, But none that I find will do.