Socrates's Accusers Essay

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Socrates opened his speech by simply stating, “hardly a word they [his accusers] have said is true.” (17a 4-5) He then addressed that his accusers warned the jury that Socrates was “a clever speaker”. (17b 1) Socrates went on to refute this claim as well, unless they “call a ‘clever’ speaker one who speaks the truth,” if so then he was a “clever speaker”. (17b 5-6) Socrates explained that he has no experience in court, so he was not sure what appropriate speech was for court. He concluded that he would speak the same way he always speaks, with directness and honesty. Socrates began addressing his first charge, from his older accusers, by explaining why he has been questioning Athens’s wisest men. Socrates stated that he dreaded this accusation the most because many of his old accusers were not present at the trial, thus he could not question them the way he planned to question his newer accusers. He then went on to discuss the prophecy by the oracle at Delphi that claimed Socrates was the wisest man, but he refused to believe this and set out to find someone wiser …show more content…

He began his speech with surprise about how many jury members voted in his favor. Socrates then went on to express how he did not want to evoke the emotions of the jurors by presenting his family, and begging for mercy and reiterates that the most important thing to him in this trial is justice. Socrates continued on with speech by stating that he does not have enough money to pay a fine, but his friends will gladly pay it for him. But Socrates refused to ask for a fine or banishment, because if he did, that would mean he’s guilty, and he believed he was completely innocent. The only sentence Socrates believed would be suitable for himself was to be fed at the Olympic Dining hall, where other men who dedicated their life to the public

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