The Trial, Sentence & Execution of Socrates

Plato presents an explicit statement of the relationship between the individual and society--even an unjust society--in the form of the "Apology," the statement of Socrates to the court that finally sentences him to death. The speech represents the conflict between the power of the state and the integrity of the individual. The court gives Socrates an out if he recants his teachings, and he will not do it. Socrates represents the primary social value of inquiry, of the pursuit of philosophy, of the examination of the meaning of life. He also represents integrity, for when we inquire into the meaning of existence and develop a set of beliefs, we must live up to those beliefs. Socrates believes the unexamined life is not worth living, and if he accepts the right of the court to judge his thoughts, he has lost his integrity. Socrates is a poor man who is rich in intellect and in dedicati

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is 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. 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 of the city like to see. He states that when the young people who follow him are queried as to what evil teachings Socrates has made, they are not able to give an answer because there are no evil teachings at all. Many do not want to appear not to know how to answer, though, and so they repeat the charges that they have heard of philosophers who teach about things in the cl
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Approximate Word count = 1663
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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