The Trial and Death of Socrates The “Apology” refers to the trial of Socrates’ conviction of not idealizing the gods that Athens idealized, and for corrupting the youth of Athens and creating new gods. Socrates starts off his defense by requesting to the jury to not criticize him for his speech aptitude since he was not thinking about what he was saying, but letting it all flow out hastily. He then goes on to tell his audience that his adversaries have given his audience misleading information (21). He continues to blame Meletus, his indicter, and his reason being that Meletus pressed charges on Socrates due to the fact that Meletus was jealous of Socrates. Socrates also mentions himself as being atheist.
His position in life as being a good man and act as one, to live a proper and truthful life. The questioning attitude he thought Athens explaining that fundamentally there are logical reasons behind phenomena and events. Through his conversation with the jury, Socrates insists that he is no expert of any field whats so ever and he is not a wise man at all. Socrates follower Chaerphon visited the Oracle who spoke of Socrates being the wisest man in Greece. To prove the Oracle wrong Socrates went searching for a wiser man than he in Athens.
Euthyphro The Socratic dialogue Euthyphro attempts to answer the question what is piety? Euthyphro claims to know what piety is while Socrates admits ignorance and wants to be educated on the matter because he is being charged with impiety. Euthyphro is charging his own father for murder, an impious action, and he is so confident this is the right thing because of knowledge of piety. This is how Socrates knows Euthyphro can teach him about piety because he does not just say he knows what it is he is acting on it, possibly sending his father to death. Socrates says “…before he could have seen his way to bring such an action”.
The passage, 2c-3, explains in detail, what Socrates is charged for. It simply comes down to the competition of what the government wants younger men to know and what old wise men want the younger men to know. As Socrates and Euthyphro continue discussing, page 4 – d, I find that it’s OK to be laughed at as long as you do not teach your own ways to make people like yourself. Socrates feels that he is accused for making others like him because he wants to teach.
Euthyphro says he is at the courts to prosecute his father for the crime of murder. Socrates is amazed and shocked that Eythyphro would want to prosecute his own father, unless it was a family member. When Socrates discovers that in fact it was a stranger who Euthyphro’s father murdered Socrates is astonished that Eythyphro has gone through so much trouble to prosecute his
He seemed almost ambivalent to the continuation of his life but instead was concerned with the wisdom of his actions during his life. “You are wrong, sir, if you think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death; he should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong (Apology 28b).” Socrates believes that it is a disgrace to back down in the face of danger when he has done the right thing. This is especially true for Socrates because of the charges against him. He refutes all of them and shows that he does believe in the state Gods, that he does not charge a fee for teaching, and that if he pollutes the minds of young people it is of there own free will. His strongest argument is that if he did do wrong he did so unknowingly and therefore should not be punished.
The Apology The Apology is not an apology at all, it is more of a defense or an explanation of reason, the way a father would explain a life lesson to his son. Socrates was called to court in front of hundreds of his fellow Athenians, where he proved all of the alleged offenses towards him not only contradictions but completely erroneous, as well. He back-handedly apologizes for proving right the oracle Delphi’s statement; he is the wisest man in Athens. Socrates, alone, made all the men of pristine standing look like jesters. The Apology is a true testament of the importance of critical thinking and the necessity of the love of knowledge in the betterment of society.
It is often argued that Socrates believed "ideals belong in a world only the wise man can understand” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates#Politics) making the philosopher the only type of person suitable to govern others. This is completely absurd because all he is trying to do here is get him in power. What a bold statement to say that only philosophers were the only people suitable to govern people. Socrates was in no way subtle about his particular beliefs on government. He openly objected to the democracy that ran Athens during his adult life.
Around 400 BC Plato, one of Socrates greatest admirers, wrote a dialog of the speech Socrates makes at the trial where he was accused of not recognizing the gods that the state recognized, and for corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates is brought before a jury to defend his case and uses the method of cross-examination to prove his argument. Throughout the duration of the trial, Socrates uses concrete evidence and his distinctive logical to prove to his accusers that he is innocent. Instead, Socrates establishes a strong argument for his claim that he is essentially one of the most positive influences on the youth while recognizing that the gods do exist. Before Socrates went to trial to prove his innocence, in addition to already believing he was the wisest in all of Athens, he confirmed his assumption by asking the oracle.
Perhaps this is why he killed his father. He may have blamed his father for the condemnation. Since he could not know whether or not Jesus raised the dead he chose nihilism. His whole life became one of cruelty. Since his life didn’t matter—neither did anyone else’s.