(If You don't know who Socrates, where've you been all your life? Look him up, it'll change the world!)
The word 'pig' generally has negative connotations such as ignorance, therefore it doesn't immediately sound like an attractive choice. Also, the chance to be Socrates, a philosophical genius, in any situation, takes some beating. However, the saying 'ignorance is bliss' appears to be true for the pig (and many humans) - I think that what it comes down to is whether you value ignorant satisfaction over the ability and desire for intellectual stimulation.
The aim of most lives, in some way or another, is to strive for long-lasting satisfaction. This can be attained in many ways and is usually unique to the individual. Now, passing over the very debatable question of whether the pig can actually feel satisfied (unless we're talking about human pigs, such as Osama Bin Laden, when the question turns to whether they deserve to) and assuming that it can be satisfied, then, for many people, the pig has achieved a lifelong goal. Still, a satisfaction built on ignorance may not be a very long-lasting one as foundations of ignorance are often easily toppled by unwanted truths and the surfacing of reality. Also, I don't think an ignorant satisfaction is one I particularly want to feel. I do not believe it to be an immoral kind of satisfaction, like feeling satisfied in getting a cheap price for items you know were made by children in impoverished countries, but nevertheless, the ignorant satisfaction would be built upon a narrow exclusive view of the world, which does not sound appealing to me.
So, after ruling out the ignorant pig, that leaves me with Socrates. Now Socrates may start in a dissatisfied state, but, because he has the ability to correctly reason and to the the world with far less blinkers than the pig, he has the potential to be truly satisfied. That, I believe, is the real crux of the problem, therefore i would choose Socrates every time.
Of course, you have to take into account that choosing to be "Socrates" could be far more lamentable than it first appears. With the ability to see through the veil, you see the suffering and futility of life. You will see devastating truths that are far from romantic poetic notions of altruism and human kindness (although these arguably exist). You may come to vehemently criticize yourself and others, constantly deconstructing and analyzing the world around you and the human condition. This may drive you to become a consumed and bitter old curmudgeon like Schopenhauer. In this case, you choose between a life of satisfied ignorance or an intelligent yet pained and woeful existence.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, it might well drive you up the wall to observe all that 'wrong' in the world. I would still rather know all that than be the pig because Socrates has the capability for amazing thoughts. Also, I didn't include it as this is an essay for my A-level course and we had a space limit which I'd already exceeded.
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