He claims that is he voluntarily corrupted the youth, as Meletus said he does, then the youth would harm him back. But Socrates claims that he did not intentionally corrupt the youth and therefore he should have been informed and warned about this rather than punished, ‘you ought to have taken me privately, and warned and admonished me’. Socrates then moves on to the claims of Impiety made against him. He questions Meletus again asking him can one believe in human things but not humans and similar questions which again Meletus fails to answer, ‘Did ever a man believe in horsemanship, and not in horses? Or in flute- playing, and not in flute players?’ Socrates then begins to explain how he believes in spiritual agencies, he then questions Meletus again saying’ If I believe in divine beings, I must believe in spirits or demi-gods.
Through examining Meletus’s accusation Socrates comes to two conclusions, one is that he is not corrupting the youth; the second is that he is corrupting the youth but he is doing so unwillingly and therefore should not be charged, brought to trial, or punished but instructed on how to prevent it from continuing to happen (26a). Additionally, Socrates continues to use the Socratic Method to examine the second accusation against him from Meletus, impiety. Socrates asks Meletus many questions regarding his accusation and Meletus eventually admits to the jury that Socrates believes in spirits and that spirits are gods or their children (27d). Socrates then states that there is no way that the jury would believe that a
Socrates, an Athenian philosopher of Ancient Greece, a man of great wisdom and knowledge, was put to death at trial, by the accusation of impiety, and corrupting the youths of society. “The Apology” written by Plato, the Defence of Socrates as it would sound, gives us an overview of what happened at the trial. Socrates had a few accusations up against him and they weren 't that simple to defend against, but that did not stop him, he came prepared and knew what he was in for, that gave him the upper hand and he was able to successfully and flawlessly defend against any accusation and statement that the accusers sent out against him. The main Accuser was Melytus, he was supported by most of the assembly and his two compatriots Anytus and Lycon.
People who support the Socrates ideas and believe that he was not guilty. Each opinion is worthy of existence and is supported by historical facts, so which side should take the person - it depends entirely on the personal point of view of the individual. But at the same time it is worth to consider that Socrates was executed only by his own wish. The
In Euthyphro of The Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato, Socrates is visiting the court of Athens to learn about their system and customs. During his investigation, Socrates notices that Euthyphro is passing and engages in a conversation with him by questioning his actions. From this dialogue, it 's discovered that Socrates is being charged with corrupting the young and not believing in the gods of the city. Later, in the Apology, Socrates presents an argument against these accusations but it’s found guilty because of his moral beliefs and his inability of code-switching resulting in his sentence to death. Lastly, Socrate beliefs regarding the death penalty and the laws of Athens are revealed in Crito, as he awaits execution.
He fears the majority and what they can say about him favoring money over friends. Crito then continues to say that Socrates should not fear the implications his escape can have on his friends. Then he goes on exclaiming that letting himself die for nothing is unjust, Socrates would be betraying his sons and what he is doing by staying is not only evil but also shameful. Socrates does not believe so. Socrates exclaims that “whether we should act in this way or not, as not
Socrates didn’t corrupt the youth. Meletus tells Socrates that he does not believe in gods at all. Socrates shows that a person cannot believe in divine activities but not in divinities. He cannot be contradicted; he cannot believe in the gods and not believe in the gods. Socrates uses reasoning and logic throughout his trial.
Plato argues Socrates prodes at Athenians to help them, and their conviction against him was due to a personal choice, and thus they fail to work together as a perfect society. Socrates unconventional questioning helps the progress of society, and the Athenian people should welcome him, not punish him. To Plato, Socrates is a hero and he considers his service to Athens irreplaceable. Socrates articulates that he is “upon a great and noble horse which was somewhat sluggish because of its size and
In Plato’s Apology, Socrates is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by corrupting the youth. Socrates defends himself, but his defense does not work. He loses the trial which leads to him be sentenced to death, and he has to face death. Throughout his defense, he brings up the subject of death and constructs a proper view of death. Socrates regards death as not being a bad thing.
The ‘Apology’ is a form of dialectic philosophy. It illustrates the charges brought upon Socrates and the self-defense he demonstrates during the trial. Socrates is accused of ‘corruption of the youth’ and ‘impiety’. Socrates is found guilty of having faith in the wrong Gods and Meletus accuses him of not acknowledging the sun and moon as gods but as masses of stone. Socrates is accused of studying things in heaven and below the earth.