Most people think of that renowned teacher and philosopher Socrates when hemlock is mentioned - and with good reason. Socrates was executed by being ordered to take hemlock. And so he died, but his Socratic method lives on.

To this very day those of us who have a penchant for asking uncomfortable questions face consequences, sometimes painful consequences.

There is the punishment of being shunned, of being excommunicated, of being thrown out of a group, of being fired, of being ridiculed.

The question that comes to my mind asks, Didn't Socrates get what he deserved and do not those that ask uncomfortable and annoying questions deserve the consequences of their asking upsetting and irritating questions?

After all we all seek peacefulness and serenity. We like relaxation and affirmation of what we say. We need to have assurance that what we believe and what we do results in approval and appreciation. No one likes to be shown that he is unaware of why he does what he does, or to have demands placed upon his assumptions and viewpoints.

Why should anyone be allowed to interfere with our happy stance and contentment by asking philosophical questions, when most of us, most of the time, want concrete and practical answers?

The solution is reliable and convenient. Lock up, or kill off those that have no more sense than to parade around asking questions that cause consternation, doubts, and cause us to feel less intelligent than we like to think of ourselves? After all, it's not like Socrates and these other nasty philosophers have answers to their questions themselves. These annoying question askers deserve what they get. Serve them hemlock and let's get on with the practical side of conducting our lives.

Don't you agree?

Bob eee

Gene Karels Responds:

While those of us who think of these mostly unanswerable questions usually do reap some painful consequences, what would the world be like if we did not? As the Bible says, a prophet is not without honor except in his own country. The progress that has come about in the world has done so only because of those who dared to risk painful consequences. I must tip my hat to those who have dared, yea, not only dared to ask the needed questions, but who also persevered until the masses at least knew of the questions that were being asked, but sometimes started to ask similar questions themselves.

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