Annually a sacred ship would set sail around the Island of Delos, and until its return, Athenian society would not partake in public executions due to religious observance. Socrates trial at Roayl Sota and sentence occurred during this period. Whilst waiting for the sacred ship and the fate to follow, the 70-year-old Athenian philosopher defends himself, in his jail cell.
Like Socrates awaiting his execution on the arrival of the Ship from Delos-humans are in a similar situation as we see the black sails of our future global ecological collapse. In their pocket size ethical analysis of humanity’s fragile future, Robert Bringhust and Jan Zwicky’s “Learning to Die-Wisdom in the age of Climate Crisis” raise the almost unthinkable question: how should humanity face its destiny- as have many other species, its ultimate extinction? If as they argue, we have done too little too late to avert this catastrophe, how should we learn to face our demise with a modicum of responsibility and grace- just as Socrates did in awaiting his execution? As one reviewer of this immensely prescient book suggests, it opens a space for human beings to reflect on “ultimate things.”
As we enter the year when the UK hosts COP26 and world leaders congregate in Glasgow to decide on how global governance systems respond to the climate crisis, I wonder if the ethical question this book addresses will in any way be part of the dialogue?
Back to Socrates- many believe he was innocent of the charges made against him. Unlike many of our political and corporate leaders who will be feted at COP26. Many of whom live comfortable, air-conditioned lives surrounded by affluence of an unbelievable kind: SUVs, extravagant homes, and extensive, mostly private air travel. The book asks what would constitute “virtue” under these conditions? Their conclusion is straightforward-those which were characterised and cultivated by Socrates and particularly those he embodied in the days he learned that he was going to lose his life. And it is these virtues which should underpin those actions and approaches we collectively adopt in response to the climate crisis.
So, what are these virtues? From their Greek origins they are conceived as excellence-of being a “noble exemplar.” Whereas, from their Latin and Christian origins, they are understood to represent purity, meekness, and quiet obedience. Clearly, their origin, translation, and usage, like language today had a variety of meanings. This is particularly true when the characteristics of “human excellence” are analysed within each of the core Socratic values, namely: Courage, Self-Control, Contemplative Practice, Compassion and Knowledge.
The book explores how deeply aware Socrates was of the authentic meaning of each of these virtues. For example, knowledge of itself is not that important, but “knowing what’s what: linked with an awareness coupled with humility regarding what one knows” is much more important. In today’s reality this should mean that all political and corporate decisions, in support of sustainable human progress, must be based on a wise systemic appraisal against all six core Socratic values.
As the authors rightly say: “How might humans living today or in the near future manifest these excellences, in the face of our own global ecological ship from Delos?”
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