Several of the dialogues of Plato recount the trial, sentence, and execution of Socrates, with his friends gathered around. An image of the man emerges from these dialogues showing him to be a person of fierce integrity, a man who would rather die than consider himself dishonored, and a man who charges his friends to allow him to live life as he sees fit. Even as Socrates challenges aspects of the society of Athens, he demonstrates the importance of certain values in that society both in his own person and even in the charges brought against him, however incorrect those charges may be. Portions of Socrates's trial are presented in The Apology. Socrates speaks to his friends after he has been condemned and while in prison awaiting execution in The Crito. Athenian society is shown in these dialogues to be a society based on law, dedicated to the pursuit of philosophy and ethical inquiry, and concerned about passing its ideals from one generation to the next. While the society may be unfair to Socrates, he shows that he has learned the lessons of that society in terms of integrity and ethical behavior. Socrates does not change his view of his own duty not to break the law between The Apology and The Crito, for even thouugh he has been unjustly accused and knows he is not guilty, he still accepts the judment of the court and refuses to flee when given teh opportunity.
The Apology is 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 beli...