Day by day, the daimon offered him the hemlock. So he took it.
December 6, 2011 10:27 AM Subscribe
Sócrates is dead. It’s hard to see how anyone could be surprised. Run of Play on the death of Sócrates.
video tribute
video tribute
It took me the longest time to figure out what was going on here. Thank goodness for the accent over the O tipping me off that it probably wasn't the Greek one.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 11:01 AM on December 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 11:01 AM on December 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Brazil 1982. What a team. Socrates, Zico, Falcao, Junior: simply incredible. It's hard to be churlish about Italy '82, given Tardelli's irrepressible celebrations, but Brazil should have won.
As for Socrates himself: a midfielder nonpareil, a doctor, a dedicated political activist, and possessor of the best beard in world football. How fitting that he should depart on the day Corinthians win the title; 172 goals in 297 appearances is monstrous. Moreover, he had that rare gift that sets the great footballers apart: to watch him play was to be suffused with simple joy. Gavin McOwan recalls a lengthy and langorous interview with the Doctor, naturally over many, many beers. He'll be missed.
posted by Errant at 11:08 AM on December 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
As for Socrates himself: a midfielder nonpareil, a doctor, a dedicated political activist, and possessor of the best beard in world football. How fitting that he should depart on the day Corinthians win the title; 172 goals in 297 appearances is monstrous. Moreover, he had that rare gift that sets the great footballers apart: to watch him play was to be suffused with simple joy. Gavin McOwan recalls a lengthy and langorous interview with the Doctor, naturally over many, many beers. He'll be missed.
posted by Errant at 11:08 AM on December 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
For the first paragraph I thought this article was about Socrates the philosopher, a curveball take on his life that I was trying to wrap my head around.
It’s also hard not to think that he died because he wanted to, since Sócrates always seems to have done what he wanted to... When people die from alcoholic poisoning — which is in effect what killed Sócrates — it’s usual to speak of their “demons”: he could never escape his demons, he could never conquer his demons, in the end his demons destroyed him.
Struggling against the daimon of doubt that always plagued him (It is a voice which, when it makes itself heard, deters me from what I am about to do and never urges me on.") he lost himself in eros, with philosophy, alcohol and sex blending into one. He was always praised for his indifference to suffering, but it was only self destruction masked as virtue. He thought it was right to destroy himself.
Interesting. I'd go see that play. Wait, we're talking about soccer now?
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:09 AM on December 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
It’s also hard not to think that he died because he wanted to, since Sócrates always seems to have done what he wanted to... When people die from alcoholic poisoning — which is in effect what killed Sócrates — it’s usual to speak of their “demons”: he could never escape his demons, he could never conquer his demons, in the end his demons destroyed him.
Struggling against the daimon of doubt that always plagued him (It is a voice which, when it makes itself heard, deters me from what I am about to do and never urges me on.") he lost himself in eros, with philosophy, alcohol and sex blending into one. He was always praised for his indifference to suffering, but it was only self destruction masked as virtue. He thought it was right to destroy himself.
Interesting. I'd go see that play. Wait, we're talking about soccer now?
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:09 AM on December 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
Okay. So this isn't an anachronistic fiction piece where different schools of philosophical thought are represented as football teams. Recalibrating...okay I'm good with that now. Sigh. Even though I respect the loss of a talented athlete whose career I didn't follow, I really wanted to read the other.
posted by otherchaz at 11:10 AM on December 6, 2011
posted by otherchaz at 11:10 AM on December 6, 2011
I thought this was going to be about José Sócrates, and I was a little put off that he died so soon after leaving office.
posted by pmv at 11:16 AM on December 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pmv at 11:16 AM on December 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Okay. So this isn't an anachronistic fiction piece where different schools of philosophical thought are represented as football teams.
That can also be provided. Fittingly, Socrates scores.
posted by Errant at 11:17 AM on December 6, 2011 [6 favorites]
That can also be provided. Fittingly, Socrates scores.
posted by Errant at 11:17 AM on December 6, 2011 [6 favorites]
I love Run of Play, but the articles do tend to start halfway through the author's thought process.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:32 AM on December 6, 2011
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:32 AM on December 6, 2011
In Brazil, Sócrates is also remembered by his ballsy, badass political stance — in the 80s, while Brazil was still ruled by generals, he led the Democracia Corinthiana movement, a very public "fuck you" to the military. We Brazilians really love the guy, he'll be sorely missed.
posted by Tom-B at 2:15 PM on December 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Tom-B at 2:15 PM on December 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
.
posted by dealing away at 2:25 PM on December 6, 2011
posted by dealing away at 2:25 PM on December 6, 2011
Coolest footall player ever. RIP.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 2:34 PM on December 6, 2011
posted by GallonOfAlan at 2:34 PM on December 6, 2011
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