The Apology

In Cornell West’s presentation to the APHA in 2010 (I recommend that you watch the video link), he referred to The Apology by Plato, written in 399 BC, about Socrates, who was unjustly condemned to death for impiety. West makes this vital contribution to Western philosophy because it is widely recognized as describing the ideal philosopher seeking truth and justice. As Socrates expressed to the jury in this story, 

West encouraged the APHA attendees to live a life replete with self-examination and perhaps compare their relative fortune with others. If they do this, they will be compassionate to the human condition. No one is immune to disease, suffering, or misfortune.

The thesis offered by both West and Socrates is that everyone is culpable for social injustice; we must question ingrained social doctrines and dogmas. Both philosophers suggest that death is worthwhile if one is true to the pursuit of social justice. Socrates’ famous assertion, “...the life which is unexamined is not worth living,” expresses an invitation to examine our role within the human system.

Celebrating our singular achievements while ignoring the needs of those around us speaks to the “deliberate ignorance” and “willful blindness” described emphatically by West. Our preoccupation with material gain and entitled advantages inherent to being born into a particular station in life should not preclude a careful understanding of how we are interconnected. We must recognize that a society is only as good as the least among us. 

A complete and prosperous life does not function independently of others, oblivious to the disparity and injustice in other people’s lives due to cultural, gender, racial, socioeconomic, and sexual orientation status differences. Empathy, an admission of ignorance, and self-imposed accountability to advocate for the disenfranchised - are invaluable assets. However, as West passionately proposes, we must choose to “interrogate assumptions.” Finally, we must choose to intervene. Furthermore, we can only break down barriers and work towards an equitable outcome.