A TALE OF SHARED HUMANITY
Two humans.
One was known for being ugly. Many consider the other the apex of feminine beauty.
One is famous for being famous. The other to this day is held up as the pinnacle of wisdom.
Socrates was highly skilled in argumentative reason. He had a playful wit and loved irony. Socrates did not care about money, although he did not begrudge others of this. He lived a simple life and wandered the streets of Athens dressed in rags. Socrates had a strong moral code and held five virtues close: courage, moderation, piety, wisdom and justice. His mission was to urge the citizens of Athens to care for their souls, by trying to understand and acquire these qualities. Socrates had an entourage of believers. The most famous being Plato who spent much of his life recording and delivering Socrates' messages (Monk R, Raphael F,2000).
Kim Kardashian is highly skilled in self-promotion. She is a successful businesswoman, and her multitude of businesses has made her very wealthy. Kim lives a lavish life and struts the streets of LA dressed in designer gear. She has a strong support network made up of family, friends and staff. She is a key member of a Hollywood dynasty family, and was married to Kanye West, an American rapper, producer and fashion designer who dabbled in running for President. The Kardashian clan had their own TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and Kim was a central star. Kim keeps her family close and they are an integral part of her brand.
If Socrates were alive today what would he think of Kim Kardashian? Would he encourage her to deepen her understanding of courage, moderation, piety, wisdom and justice? Does Kim live by any of Socrates’ virtues and should she?
Had Socrates been able to time travel and meet Kim what could he have learnt from her? Would he have developed an interest in the art of self-promotion?
It turns out that Kim and Socrates share a few commonalities. Both have been accused of corrupting the youth and of having no talent. Kim is known for making a spectacle of herself and so was Socrates. Neither life could be regarded as ordinary and quiet. They are two beings that have made a mark on humanity, they have both been judged, and will continue to be.
It is easy for us to pass judgement on both Socrates and Kim, as this behaviour is ingrained in human nature. We use it to suss out a situation or person but sometimes our thoughts are harsh. Perhaps we are disapproving of other people because they make us uncomfortable about our own insecurities.
Judgement is inherent. We have to be able to judge situations and people in order to survive, but our thoughts about someone else can be a window into our own self-esteem. This can also be true when others judge us. How we receive judgment often depends on the resilience of our self-esteem.
We can all learn from both Socrates and Kim, because if we dig deeper within ourselves we will discover surprising threads across humanity.
“I love when people underestimate me and then become pleasantly surprised.”
Kim Kardashian
"When the debate is over, slander becomes the tool of the loser."
Socrates
Reference - Monk R, Raphael F2000, The Great Philosophers, Phoenix, London
