Defense Of Socrates Analysis

Most of the information that we learn about Socrates comes from the work and writings of one of his students, Plato. It has been alleged that the great Philosopher wrote nothing down for others to read, and as such, the knowledge and the teachings from Socrates that is relied upon to convey his philosophy and the epic story of his life comes not from himself, but his students who attempt to provide and accurate picture of the methods and philosophical beliefs held by their mentor and teacher.

In this paper, I will deconstruct and explain Socrates’ argument of that a person with justice in their lives is a person with happiness in their lives. Socrates argues about justice and its presence and how it works in the world, but I will only be talking about justice and its presence in people. He argues that justice the virtue that allows for people to live well and have happy lives though the relationship of justice, souls, functions, and virtues.

Plato’s “Defense of Socrates” follows the trial of Socrates for charges of corruption of the youth. His accuser, Meletus, claims he is doing so by teaching the youth of Athens of a separate spirituality from that which was widely accepted.

Socrates was accused of disrespecting the gods respected by the Athenians as well as corrupting the minds of the Athenian youth, but I believe that he was not guilty as the accusers made him to be. Although he claimed that he was not wise, Socrates, an intellectual and logical thinker, should have known about the crimes he committed, yet his shaky understanding of impiety led to his whole discussion with Euthyphro leading up to the trial. During the trial, Socrates claimed that the people accusing him of impiety have no actual valid claims as they were what was gossiped about from a long time ago. No witnesses who knew the truth came up, cementing his account of the incorrect accusation (18c-19d). Socrates also stated that he believed in supernatural affairs, and during his exchange with Meletus, Socrates uses Meletus’ answers to support the fact that he is not guilty,

The problem with Socrates concerns the problem with the role of value and reason. Nietzsche believes that the bulk of philosophers claim that life is a corrupt grievance for mankind. Nietzsche reasoned that these life deniers were decadents of Hellenism, as a symptom of some underlying melancholy. For someone to paint life in such a negative light they must have suffered a great deal through the course of their own life. Furthermore, these no-sayers agreed in various physiological ways and thus adopted the same pessimistic attitudes towards life. Socrates was ugly, alike decadent criminals and by ways of these similarities was decadent as well. Nietzsche also claims ugliness as a physiological symptom of life in its decline supported by studies in phenology.

Will you choose to stick with your values and principals when facing death? It has been a month since Socrates was put in prison waiting for his execution. Socrates’s execution took long because a state galley had set out on a religious mission that took place annually, and the law was to never allow any executions until the state galley returns. Socrates was sentenced to death after he was found guilty in not believing in the Gods and also corrupting the young children. When the ship was about to arrive, Crito, Socrates’s old faithful friend, arrives early to where they held Socrates. The guard allows Crito to see Socrates because he offered them a bribe. Crito becomes surprised on how Socrates remains calm even when facing a death sentence.

In the Dialogue Crito, Socrates employs his Elenchus to examine the notion of justice and one’s obligation to justice. In the setting of the dialogue, Socrates has been condemned to die, and Crito comes with both the hopes and the means for Socrates to escape from prison. When Socrates insists that they should examine whether he should escape or not, the central question turns into whether if it is unjust to disobey laws. Socrates’ ultimate answer is that it is unjust; he makes his argument by first showing that it’s wrong to revenge injustice, then arguing that he has made an agreement with the city’s law for its benefits, and finally reasoning that he

Four accusations about Socrates are that he commits injustice and is a busybody; he investigates things in the heavens and beneath the earth; he does not acknowledge the gods; he makes the weaker argument the stronger; he teaches this to others; he corrupts the young (Plato, Apology, 18c-19b, pg 47). While he is guilty of the first, second, fifth and sixth accusations, he is innocent of the third and the fourth.

There are times in every mans life where our actions and beliefs collide—these collisions are known as contradictions. There are endless instances in which we are so determined to make a point that we resort to using absurd overstatements, demeaning language, and false accusations in our arguments. This tendency to contradict ourselves often questions our character and morals. Similarly, in The Trial of Socrates (Plato’s Apology), Meletus’ fallacies in reason and his eventual mistake of contradicting himself will clear the accusations placed on Socrates. In this paper, I will argue that Socrates is not guilty of corrupting the youth with the idea of not believing in the Gods but of teaching the youth to think for

Socrates is facing the death penalty in Athens and his old friend Crito is trying to break him out of prison. Socrates however refuses his offer and Crito goes on to try and find ways to convince him why he should break out, but Socrates argues against all the reasons Crito gives. At one point in the argument Socrates discusses the laws of Athens and how they “gave birth to you, brought you up, educated you, and gave you and all the other citizens everything we could that's good” (Crito, line 51c). Socrates says this to try and explain to Crito that the laws of Athens are bound to all the fellow citizens of Athens, that they have been nurturing him and have allowed him and all the other citizens to live a life of balance and harmony. Socrates

Commonly the most widely renowned teachers in history often are remembered as the most intriguing teachers in history. Scholars often ask, what made their teaching style so different, or what was so unique about this educator? Perhaps the most investigated teachers of the world often left the smallest written mark on the world. No exception to this, is the philosopher, Socrates. Widely known as one of the greatest Athenian philosophers, he never wrote anything down, and is theorized as illiterate. The only record of this man lies in his student, Plato’s Dialogues, as well as references from other writers of the

Socrates spent his time questioning people about things like virtue, justice, piety and truth. The people Socrates questioned are the people that condemned him to death. Socrates was sentenced to death because people did not like him and they wanted to shut him up for good. There was not any real evidence against Socrates to prove the accusations against him. Socrates was condemned for three major reasons: he told important people exactly what he thought of them, he questioned ideas that had long been the norm, the youth copied his style of questioning for fun, making Athenians think Socrates was teaching the youth to be rebellious. But these reasons were not the charges against him, he was charged with being an atheist and

Athenian citizens, I implore you to understand Socrates guilt within the matter of impiety. Impiety is lacking respect for a god or gods. Actions or words that go against the status quo of religious activity would certainly fall under the category of impious behavior. This includes the unnamed “divine” voice within Socrates head. Those that accused him may not have done so for the right reasons, but it does nothing to prove he is innocent of impiety.

All things taken into account, one remains unchanged in the original decision made concerning this particular scenario. It is difficult to point to only one or two principles that were influential in the reasoning utilized to remain constant with the original thoughts, as it seems to be each of the reasons. There is something to be said for individuals who may do something wrong, unknowingly and when provided feedback make every attempt to change the behavior or request assistance. It is of the opinion, that not doing one’s own work and paying another individual to do it, suggests an unethical behavior upfront, without the attempt to try or learn from the mistakes one makes one’s own. It is of the belief that a good assumption is that Professors do not typically assign work to students without an expectation that students will complete it on their own (unless otherwise specified) without cheating. Cheating is lying, and both are viewed to be wrong and a demonstration of

The accusers, Meletos, Anytos, and Lycon, are all young and trying to make a name for themselves. They begin by telling everyone not to be deceived and to take caution because Socrates is a “clever speaker”. According to Socrates, the difference between him and his accusers is that he speaks the truth. He is on trial for two items, which include, corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates tells everyone that he has no experience with the court and he will speak the way he is used to by being honest and direct. Socrates explains that his behavior is from the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.