The Good, The Bad, and The Socrates

Socrates: a name that some seem to associate with ignorance, blasphemy, and breaking of tradition.  I, however am not an individual that falls into that category.  Perhaps I am slightly bias due to the ethics and law class I took in high school, in which we read Sophie's World and discussed in great detail the brilliance and pioneering of philosophers, namely, Socrates.  (If you haven't read this book, and want to gain a firm grasp on who the philosophers were, or are just looking for a fantastic read, I highly recommend picking up a copy. In the same class we also dove into the thought that all men are naturally 'good', which I disagree with, but thats another story for another post). The era in which Socrates lived deemed new methods of teaching or learning invaluable and for some reason, offensive. This concept is some what bizarre to me, having been raised in a society where I have always been able to express my opinions and ideas, and been taught that everything is a learning experience.  Socrates, even in his day, was able to draw the same conclusion.  I think perhaps because he was supposedly so ugly, (and I personally think he had an innately different way of thinking anyway) that it gave him more time to reflect on himself, society, and observe the harmful inequalities taking place around him.  He was able to reason that he could learn as much from his 'students' as they could learn from him, and that knowledge is free. (This leads me to the question of why universities seem to think their disgustingly high tuition rates are justifiable.) Although many 'teachers' of the time would have sexual relations with their younger students, Socrates had the good form to abstain from this practice, as it served no educational purpose. He was one of the few men of his time that were able to recognize the fact that genetalia had nothing to do with competency or quality of thought. That age was not a rope which bound the mind. I have nothing but deep admiration for someone who not only holds the ability to think so differently than the rest of society, but has the courage to voice their thoughts.
      Even in the Apology, when Socrates is facing certain death, unless he simply stifles his pride, he does not regret anything he has said or taught, and leaves the world still believing, whole heartedly, that he was the wisest of men. For this, I admire his dedication and belief in himself. In the story MacBeth, it is prophecized that he will kill the king and hold the throne; I personally believe that this was not a psychic reading but a idea put in place which sparked his actions to kill and claim the throne. It was because he believe the 'prophecy' that he pursued it; I feel the same was true with Sophocles.  I do not believe that Sophocles was the actual wisest man, but I do believe that because of his belief in the premonition that he lived up to it. A self-fulfilling prophecy. Because he wanted to live up to the title of 'wisest man' he forced himself to evaluate the life around him, and in turn gained wisdom from it.