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A Farmers View
Socrates is not guilty. He is a great man and always will be. He has many great views and opinions on the world and is a great thinker who questions everything. Socrates is on trial for being an enemy of the state with the charges that he is a threat to the democracy, a threat to society, and a threat to Athenian culture. As a farmer I want Socrates to be found not guilty because he is not corrupt, he is trying to start a new government, and he wants people to question everything. He is a patriot, not guilty of any of the accusations that the Democrats brought up. In this paper I will explain why Socrates is innocent of these charges.
The charges that are proposed by the Radical and the Moderate Democrats against Socrates are
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that: he is the enemy of the state, a threat to democracy, society and the Athenian culture. The Radical Democrats say that he is a tyrant because his teaching and his beliefs developed tyrants like Alcibiades and Nicias, which ultimately led to the downfall of Athens. The Democrats also pointed out that they thought that Socrates is a hypocrite and is self consumed. Their reasoning behind it is that he always questions people and tore apart their opinions. The Democrats made the argument that he was only teaching to make his status higher and to better himself, not others. The argument that is made by the democrats against Socrates is not relevant to the charge of he was an enemy of the state. Everybody in a society has done something that goes against what is stated in the law, and not everybody gets punished for that. If everybody was punished for small beliefs that oppose what the government says, then there would be nobody left on the streets. If that is true should everybody be charged with being an enemy of the state? Socrates teaches people about his views on life and helped Athenians form great ideas and beliefs.
Socrates never violates any laws. He taught people who violated the laws. Why should we punish people who just came in contact with these tyrant? How far down the line do we stop punishing people that are associated with the tyrants? If we get rid of everybody that is associated with the tyrants, there would not be anybody left in Athens. Alcibiades was power hungry, the only good thing about him was that he was a general. Since Alcibiades was such a great warrior the Athenian government rewarded him with the position of a general. This led him to have more power and once he got it, he wanted more. He did anything to have power even if that meant to take over Athens. He is a follower and admirer of Socrates. He followed what he believed Socrates taught. What Socrates’ taught was a lot different then what Alcibiades thought. He took what Socrates taught but put his own twist on it, so it benefitted only himself. This is what led him to become a tyrant. (Ober, Norman and Carnes).
Socrates is not a corrupt person. He did not want to gain power from his teachings. He also never took any money for teachings All he wants is to have people to think about life and to question truths we know
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today: “Then what do you think would happened,’ I asked, ‘if he went back to sit in his old seat in the cave? Wouldn’t his eyes be blinded by the darkness, because he had come in suddenly out of the sunlight?’ ‘Certainly.’ ‘And after he had to discriminate between the shadows, in competition with the other prisoners, while he was still blinded and before his eyes got used to the darkness-a process that would take some time- wouldn’t he be likely to make a fool of himself?” (Plato, 243). This quote that Socrates said came from the analogy of the cave. This quote is about how a man that lives in a cave finds out that there is an outside world. After he found this outside world his perception of truth widened. That is why Socrates wants people to find the real truth because there is always more below the surface. Socrates is the only person who knows how to ask the right questions to get the real truth. Just like how it took awhile for the real definition of justice to form. Socrates said that: “Justice is much more valuable than gold, and you must not think we shall slacken our efforts to find it out of any idiotic deference to each other” (Plato,16). Like it is said in this quote it is very important to question ideas so we can get the full understanding. Socrates did this constantly with his and other people’s ideas to get the truth. Questioning ideas and forming your own opinions does not make you a terrible person. It should make you more esteemed because you are not afraid to have your opinion voiced. In Democracy you vote for the people who have clear views and strong opinions. Those are the type of people you trust and listen to, and that is who Socrates was to many people. After the Thirty Tyrants disbanded, Athens needed a new government that would help Athens recover to the once glorious state. That is what Socrates tried to do. His society would have helped rebuild Athens. He planned out his whole new society so that it would run smoothly. It is not dangerous or undermining to think of new forms of government when the old was was falling apart. Socrates said: “We are to study not only the origins of society, but also society when it enjoys the luxuries of civilization. Not a bad idea, perhaps, for in the process we may discover how justice and injustice are bred in a community” (Plato,60). He planned on making this society achievable and along the way hopefully they would understand the meaning of justice. All of Socrates views in some were put into law during the sessions that the assembly held. Socrates’ ideas were rooted into the Athenian government as it can be seen whenever we had a council meeting. Since his ideas were rooted in the government it does not make sense to go against his ideas or call the ideas a threat to society. Every law that is passed in our assembly is based on of the teachings or views of Socrates.
When the assembly presented the topic about the electorate the Socratics proposed that metics and slaves can vote, but only after they have had proper education and passed a test showing that they have the intellect to vote. Education was very important to Socrates, so the fact that this passed as a law will only help the people of Athens become more educated about their society. In the third session when we talked about social welfare, the proposed law stated the assemblymen and jurors are not to be paid and the funds are delegated to the ones who need it. People in the jury should not be paid because it is the right thing to volunteer time to better the community. When this passed it showed that the presence of Socrates’ ideas is already forming the new society. In the fifth session we discussed governance. The law that was proposed for that day is that major laws should be decided by a council or the assembly. Socrates wanted a smaller group of people deciding what should be the laws because he did not want the chance for another corrupt government. The assembly voted and made that possible. The Socratics won that the council members are voted in and not selected by
lots. In the end, Socrates is an innocent man. He never did anything wrong. He never harmed anybody or anything. Socrates’ main goals were to question everything to find the real and whole truth behind everything. He was a man that never broke any laws. By finding Socrates innocent means that he can continue his teaching and pass them on for generations to come. Soon everybody will know why it is good to question ideas before coming to an agreement on what is the real truth.
O men of Athens! After we have heard the accusers, whom said that Socrates corrupts the youth by criticising democracy and does not believe in gods, and makes the worse appear the better cause. (Apology, Plato) I beg you to grant me a favor, please listen to a few words from me before making this decision.
In Plato's Crito, Socrates explains to his old friend Crito his reasons for refusing an offer to help him escape execution. One of the tools Socrates uses to convince Crito of the righteousness of his decision is a hypothetical argument concerning the state and laws of Athens. Central to this argument is the congeniality that Socrates had always found in Athens, reflected by the fact that Socrates chose to remain in Athens for most of his life. Such a choice, the laws insist, implies a tacit agreement between Socrates and the state of Athens, stipulating that Socrates either obey the laws or, when he deems the laws unjust, persuade the city to act in a more suitable fashion. It is this "just agreement" that prohibits Socrates from fleeing Athens to avoid execution. Socrates proves to Crito's satisfaction that to break this agreement would be to do wrong to the city of Athens, and as such it cannot be seriously considered.
Living in a democracy, everyone is exposed through television and other various forms of media everyday to numerous trials by jury. Usually they are rarely given a second thought, but every once in a while along comes a specific trial which captures the attention of the entire country. This goes the same for trials throughout centuries in our past. Although they did not have the same forms of media as in this, modern era, there were still specific trials in which everyone knew about. One trial that stands out is the one against the great philosopher Socrates. Accused of corrupting the youth, being an atheist, and believing in other gods, Socrates faced trial by jury. The early forms of democracy were not as sophisticated and complex as they are now. The outcome of the trial was that Socrates was found guilty and sentenced to be put to death by hemlock poisoning. The question is whether Socrates was truly guilty or just another person fallen to the early form of democracy of a people who were possibly jealous and afraid of Socrates. However, by understanding Socrates intentions, it is clear that he was in fact innocent of the above charges, and was wrongly accused and executed.
Socrates reaches a conclusion that defies a common-sense understanding of justice. Nothing about his death sentence “seems” just, but after further consideration, we find that his escape would be as fruitless as his death, and that in some sense, Socrates owes his obedience to whatever orders Athens gives him since he has benefited from his citizenship.
If Socrates were put on trial today it would be much like his trial in Athens, most likely put on trial for the same reason of some citizens resenting him for his deeds of making them seem foolish. Upon living within our society, he would have had a grasp of what we value and want from life. Knowing about what his view of our society would most likely be, I believe that Socrates would defend himself and make a statement to our society by explain to us, are we only resent him due to our arrogance as found in the Apology and The Allegory of the Cave, how we must change our ways as a society by properly prioritizing our efforts to seek wisdom as seen in his conversation with Meno, and will refute how any punishment we could give him will not
Socrates was not guilty as charged; he had done nothing wrong, as seen in the Apology. Not even a priest could tell Socrates what he had done wrong religiously, Euthyphro wasn’t even able to give Socrates a precise definition of piety. It is then questioned by Crito why Socrates would remain to face a penalty for a crime he did not commit. In the Crito, it is explained why, although innocent, Socrates must accept the penalties his peers have set upon him. It is his peers that will interpret and enforce the laws, not the law which will enforce it. Even if the enforcers don’t deserve attention and respect because they have no real knowledge to the situation, Socrates had put himself under their judgment by going to the trial. Therefore, Socrates must respect the decisions made by the masses because the decisions are made to represent the laws, which demand each citizen’s respect.
state gods of Athens and, not only that, but by its literal meaning, does not
Socrates lived such a private life that it lead to the most important revelation of his entire life. He would go about his life doing nothing but self-examination. In examining his life so strenuously others would come to him to be taught, or to have their children be taught by Socrates. They would offer him money and he would refuse. They would do whatever they could to learn anything Socrates had to teach. What they did not know is that Socrates was not teaching anyone he was simply going about his usual life and people just happened to learn from it. This was also why Socrates was put on trial. He was brought up on two charges, one of impiety and the other of corrupting the youth. These two charges set the course for the last month of his life.
It takes one person to begin expanding a thought, eventually dilating over a city, gaining power through perceived power. This is why Socrates would be able to eventually benefit everyone, those indifferent to philosophy, criminals, and even those who do not like him. Socrates, through his knowledge of self, was able to understand others. He was emotionally intelligent, and this enabled him to live as a “gadfly,” speaking out of curiosity and asking honest questions. For someone who possesses this emotional intelligence, a conversation with Socrates should not have been an issue-people such as Crito, Nicostratus, and Plato who he calls out during his speech. (37) The problem is that many of the citizens of Athens who wanted Socrates dead, lacked that emotional intelligence and thought highly of themselves. So of course they become defensive when Socrates sheds light on the idea that they may be wrong. As someone who cared most about the improvement of the soul, Socrates would have made a constructive role model to the criminals of Athens, as he would go on saying, “virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man…”(35) Socrates was able to benefit everyone alike as he had human wisdom- something that all the Athenians could relate
Socrates was accused of being a sophist, a professional philosopher. Sophists were seen as corrupters of society and as generally bad men. Socrates says that every one of these accusations is false. He tells the Athenians a story where he asks a man who he would hire to educate his sons and how much that man's services would cost. The man replies that he would hire Evenus of Paros, and that he charges 500 drachmae. Socrates expresses his surprise that any man could be good enough to charge that much money. The man says that Evenus is the best tutor in the world. Socrates says that he does not posses the knowledge or wisdom to do anything even remotely close to what Evenus does. Socrates never charged money for his lessons, and he never really did any formal teaching. He had followers, and they claim that they learned a lot from him. But the fact is, Socrates never did any formal instruction, so he never told people what to believe. Therefore, Socrates could not have corrupted the youth with his teaching, because...
Within the duration of this document, I will be discussing the charges laid against Socrates and how he attempted to refute the charges. One of the reasons why Socrates was arrested was because he was being accused of corrupting the minds of the students he taught. I personally feel that it is almost impossible for one person to corrupt the thoughts and feelings of a whole group of people. Improvement comes from the minority and corruption comes from the majority. Socrates is one man (minority).
When Socrates posited the idea that the laws and citizens work together synergistically, was this not broken when Socrates was unjustly convicted of a crime? The logic of Socrates would hold that one should act in accordance with just laws, but when the legal system becomes unjust, one is not required to follow the laws. The only alternative to abiding the law is to expatriate or persuade the government, so one would think that Socrates would find the code of law not worth adhering to after it was proven unjust through his trial especially after dismissing the wisdom of public opinion. The tacit agreement of the citizen to the system of laws is also a point to be disputed. An individual’s inhabitance of an area does not suppose that he has extensive legal knowledge of his place of residence. For a legal code to be truly just, the citizens must be aware of all possible infractions and physically indicate their subscription to them. If a citizen were unknowingly to commit a crime, how could he be justly held accountable? Socrates should not be held accountable for his crime unless he consciously agreed to the laws and understood his action was illegal before it was
Socrates, according to Plato challenged the norms of society by questioning life and having others question it as well. He was labeled of “corrupting the youth” and for not believing in the Athenians gods. “Socrates is guilty of corrupting the young, and of not acknowledging the gods the city acknowledges, but new daimonic activities instead.” (The Apology, pp 654) Although, he was cast by being “corrupt”, Socrates had many followers that saw him as a wise man. Socrates trial was made up of thirty jurors, who were later known as “The Thirty.” The “Thirty” really wanted was to silence Socrates, rather than taking his life. However, Socrates did not want to disobey the laws, he did not want to be violated of his right to freedom of speech, nor did he did he want to be undermine his moral position. (The Apology, pp. 647) He stood against injustice acts several times while he was in counsel. “I was the sort...
The charges against Socrates were brought upon him by a man names Meletus. Meletus was a young man that Socrates did not know very well. These charges brought on by Meletus caused the indictment of Socrates. One of the charges in the affidavit written by Meletus against Socrates is that he is "corrupting the youth." Another charge that is brought upon Socrates is that of he is making up new Gods and disregarding the old Gods the Athenians believe in. These were the charges brought on Socrates.
When Socrates was brought to trial for the corruption of the city’s youth he knew he had done nothing wrong. He had lived his life as it should be lead, and did what he ne...