Trial of Socrates

Having observed the trial of Socrates, I was especially taken by the speech delivered by the defendant at the conclusion. It is a speech which addresses the central issue directly--is Socrates guilty of the charges leveled against him? The defendant makes a good case that he is not guilty of these charges and that his enemies are using his activities against him in a way that ignores the real nature of his teaching, his guidance of the youth, and his philosophy.

Socrates says that he is apologizing to the court, but much of what he has to say to Meletus and the others in court is not an apology at all but an ironic comment on the proceedings. He clearly believes he has nothing to apologize for, since he believes he has been performing in a more moral fashion than his accusers, and he is not apologizing for his philosophy because philosophy is not only his life but the goal to which he believes all human beings should tend. He says he has dedicated his life to inquiry, and his apology is just another example of his method of inquiry. Rather than apologizing, Socrates offers a graphic example of his method, the method of teaching for which he has been on trial.

The court finally gave Socrates an out if he would recant his teachings, but he will not do it:

If I say it is impossible for me to keep quiet because that means disobeying the god, you will not believe me and will think I am being ironical. On the other hand, if I say that it is the greatest good for a man to

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e cannot find him guilty simply because he has been referred to in a play. Another reason for the prejudice against him is the false rumors that have circulated about how he has investigated the things of heaven and earth, when in fact Socrates has no interest in the physical sciences and has given his attention to other matters that interest him more. Another charge is that Socrates claims a certain wisdom for himself, and he finds that this prejudice has derived from a statement by the oracle at Delphi that no one was wiser than Socrates. The fact that the oracle said it does not mean that Socrates himself believes it, but the idea has been ascribed to him just the same. Another source of prejudice, he says, is the fact that over the years many of the young men of the wealthier class have come to him because they enjoy listening to the manner in which he exposes the ignorance of those around him. Those he exposes in this fashion have become angry and have called Socrates a destroyer of youth. In truth, the youth do not seem any the worse for exposure to this teacher. Socrates addresses the issue that he corrupts the young by noting his method and how all he does is expose the wrongheadedness of others, something the youth

Category: Philosophy - T