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Corruption Of Youth In The Apology By Socrates

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Socrates, a renowned Greek philosopher of his time, is detailed within the “Apology” to have been “corrupting the youth” in the effort to reach the people of Athens with his philosophical teachings. As a philosopher, he is someone who is concerned not with the scientific or mathematics of life but rather with the morality and soul of a person. With this, he is someone who would become a teacher to those around him of his morals and beliefs within the philosophical world. However, upon his teachings, he had eventually come to a blockade in the form of accusations against his way of thinking and what he taught during his life in Athens. This accusation ultimately led to his execution and death following his trial. Therefore, within the “Apology” Socrates defends himself against the accusation of corruption of the youth in that this blame is meant to direct the attention towards the philosopher and away from those who are examined due to their amounting lack of knowledge.
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Socrates believed that by questioning everything one would be able to attain true wisdom and as he taught this to young people across Athens he would lead them to question even the belief in the gods. Due to this change in norms within Athens, government officials and more began to see Socrates’ philosophy as a threat to their sanctity as leaders and that his teachings would be a threat to the order that had been established prior to him. By teaching these young people to question everything as per his philosophy he is therefore prompting them to question those of even the highest rank within Athens. In this sense, the accusation of corruption holds a deeper meaning and is used as a means to silence Socrates and to assist those who wish not to take accountability for their actions and choose to shift

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