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The Corruption Of Socrates In Plato's Apology

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Socrates was a man that was in search of the truth about wisdom. However, it became more then just a search when it brought him to trail of accusations. As a philosopher Socrates was known to overdrawn ideas and to frustrate anyone he was talking to. He is always in search of a better idea and for anyone who has experienced Socrates could assume he is making up his own actualities. This becomes evident in “ Apology” written by Plato, where Socrates was brought in charges for corrupting the minds of the youth and not believing in the Gods. Socrates claims that he did not consciously corrupt the youth of Athens, and he gives many reasons why he is not at fault for these actions. In his defense to the jury, he tells them that by looking at the facts, they will see Meletus is accusing him of something that is not true. The way Socrates defends himself is well-thought out and logical. He ask Meletus a serious of questions and Meletus answers, Socrates then moves on to the next question to support his claim. “ Either I do not corrupt the young or, if I do, it is unwillingly, and you are lying in either case” (Apology 31) Socrates believes that if he presents a point to the …show more content…

This charge states that Socrates does not believe in the gods of Athens, but instead practices “ new spiritual things” . Meletus has accused him of being an atheist. “ I can not be sure whether you mean that I teach the belief that there are some gods- and therefore I myself believe that there are gods and am not altogether an atheist, nor am I guilty of that- not, however, the gods in whom the city believes, but others,and that is the charge against me, that they are others.” (Apology31) Socrates then questions him asking how can he be a atheist but practice new spiritual things at the same time, you can not practice both as they are incompatible. Socrates once again finds a way to embarrass Meletus, while Meletus contradicts his

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