The Question Of Authority In Socrates's Trial

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

In Plato's, The Apology of Socrates, Socrates was accused and on trial for two charges: that he had corrupted the youth of Athens with his teachings, and, that he advocated the worship of false gods. Socrates taught his students to question everything in a thirst for knowledge. Thus, many politicians were looked at as hypocrites. Because of this, many politicians feared Socrates and wanted Socrates away from Athens. Socrates tried to defend himself against the charges by addressing each accusation. He classified the accusations into two categories, recent and ancient. The recent being the actual accusations and the ancient being the rumors that had circled Athens for years about how Socrates was a man of evil and a man who makes the worse

One of the charges that Socrates was facing was being impious towards the Gods recognized by the state of Athens and thus being a bad influence, but he did address this accusation in his apology. When someone reads this dialogue they will quickly notice that Socrates was not really apologizing, he was defending his actions trying to prove that he was innocent knowing that he will most likely be found guilty regardless of what he says. From his defence we can develop and have a logical assumption of how he feels towards religion. Although Socrates was found guilty of the charges I still believe that he was innocent of being impious towards the gods and being a negative influence.

However, he claims the relationship between a state and a citizen to be much stronger than the relationship between a parent and a child. His second premise introduces the obligations of a citizen to his/her state. Socrates argues that a citizen should be just and comply with the state’s law, as a child should with his/her parents. For a citizen to receive all the benefits from the state, he/she should also oblige with the state’s law, demonstrating the “Give and Take” rule. Therefore, for Socrates to escape his death sentence would be running from his obligations and an unjust act toward the state (50e –

In Plato’s Apology Socrates is being tried by Anytus and Meletus for two new charges: “corrupting the young, and not acknowledging the gods of the city acknowledges, but new daimonic activities instead” (Morgan 2005, 51). Throughout Plato’s Apology and Euthyphro Socrates uses complex rhetoric to challenge the charges brought against him based on his thoughts and understanding of what is right and wrong. He never once states he is not guilty nor does he provide reasons to support his innocence. He suggests rather that he is on a divine mission stating “this is what the god orders me to do, and I think there is no greater blessing for the city than my service to the god” (Morgan 2005, 55). Socrates uses his trial as an opportunity to show

In Plato's Euthyphro, Euthyphro is surprised to see Socrates at the courthouse because he doesn't seem like the kind of person that should be anywhere around a courthouse. They both discuss why Socrates is there in which he tells Euthyphro that he is being indicted by Meletus for corrupting the youth because he does not believe in the old gods of Athens and makes up new gods. Socrates goes on by telling Euthyphro his issue is not if he is being laughed at in the courthouse, but his concern is how serious the charges will be. The conversation now takes a turn to Euthyphro and his reason for being at the courthouse in which he tells Socrates he is there to

The portrayal of Socrates, through the book “the trial and death of Socrates” is one that has created a fairly controversial character in Western history. In many ways, Socrates changed the idea of common philosophy in ancient Greece; he transformed their view on philosophy from a study of why the way things are, into a consideration man. Specifically, he analyzed the virtue and health of the human soul. Along side commending Socrates for his strong beliefs, and having the courage to stand by those convictions, Socrates can be commended for many other desirable characteristics. Some of those can include being the first martyr to die for his philosophical beliefs and having the courage to challenge indoctrinated cultural norms is part of

Despite the controversies revolving around the trial of Socrates, the puzzle denotes all the greater having the fact that Socrates taught without molestation during his adult life. As recounted, the charges on Socrates’ trial were declared as follows: “Socrates does criminal wrong by not recognizing the gods that the city recognizes, and furthermore by introducing new divinities, and he also does criminal wrong by corrupting the youth.” Socrates believed in gods or a God and in the afterlife of the soul. He often made reference to "God" in the singular but all the same spoke of "gods." He reasoned that an intelligent existence was behind the synthesis of the universe, an argument that tempted many later on philosophers. The best prayer he said,

In Plato’s: The Apology Socrates was charged and put on trial for impiety, as well as accused of committing many other crimes. I will first explain the most important issues of why Socrates was sent to death. Then I will argue the position that Socrates is innocent, and should not be have been found guilty.

Claiming to be ignorant of the law is no defense in a courtroom. However, a man so confident in his skill would only counterintuitively employ such a strategy in his argument. Prominent philospher Socrates’ attempt to prove himself a wise man with good intentions very much fits the narrative of intelligence in humility he supports. In this case, conversely, the argument that he is ignorant of the law is highly effective against his indictment. In this way he can properly demonstrate his positive intentions by showing no malicious intentions and critique the court’s methods of dealing with those who break the law.

Why did Athens wait so long to put Socrates on trial?. Socrates was teaching students for some time before he was put on trial in 399 B.C.E. I think the people of Athens waited to put Socrates on trial because they just lost a war to Sparta and were afraid their democracy was going to be taken away from them. Some of Socrates students also turned on Athens and became part of the thirty tyrants. I think the reason why Athens did not prosecute Socrates before the war was because there was no threat to Athens Democracy. Athens and Sparta had powerful armies, and they both felt that nothing could stop them. Both cities were claiming land around the world, until they both had to fight each other, to see who was the strongest.

Thoreau’s quote “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison,” is a statement that Socrates, as portrayed by Plato, would attest to. Socrates stands trial and possible death charges, but in his last defense against the jury he sought to enlighten them in an arguably impolite manner. Given multiple chances to lessen his sentence through apology and other means, Socrates would rather stand firmly and die for what he believes is just than be molded by a social combine and be silenced unjustly. Thoreau continues with “…but more free and honorable, ground, where the State places those who are not with her, but against her-…” Socrates starts his defense by fighting the beliefs of the oldest

Socrates is known to be a great philosopher in Greece, who’s teaching has been giving great impact in today’s world. Socrates throughout his life has been teaching in Athens, unbothered. At the age of seventy, he was put on trial and executed by Athens. A lot of factors influenced his trial in 399 BCE. It still raises the same question as to what really happened and why was Socrates sent to trial at such a late age in life.

Throughout the entirety of Socrates’ trial he never believed that he would prove himself innocent. It didn’t matter the points he made or the arguments he won, Socrates believed his fate was sealed years before the trial even began. The reason for this unwavering doubt was not because of his inability to prove his innocence but in the predetermined notions the jurors came into the trial believing about him. The actual charges brought against socrates were corrupting the youth and impiety and the actual charges, that Socrates believed he needed to defend himself from were things called the old charges. These old charges consisted of Athenians believing that he is a natural philosopher and a sophist. According to Plato, Socrates concluded that

Is it right to act in one's own best interest, or to obey the state? In other words, was Socrates right to obey the orders of the state of Athens to take poison, or should he have acted to preserve his own life by choosing exile or escaping?