Accusations Against Socrates - 1014 Words

Anna Prising Accusations against Socrates Even though the conception that Socrates corrupted the youth and posed a threat to society was a factor, the most direct reason why Socrates was executed was his method to question wise Athenians. The Socratic method iniciated the corruption of youth by young men who tried to imitate Socrates and as a result, posed a threat to society since the next generation may not follow traditional Athenian rules. Early on, Socrates had clearly established to the Athenian s that he was not a Sophist. He had no intention to teach for money but instead to spread his new ideas through conversation. Socrates empathized morality and the importance of justice leaving the Athenian society completely†¦show more content†¦There are men chained to one side of a cave and a fire behind them, casting shadows along the wall that they are facing. If men were to walk with objects behind the chained men they would only see the shadow of the object and assume that that was what the objects looked like. However, if one of the men was to be dragged out of the cave and actually seen the object in the real world, it would look much different. The man who had stepped out of the cave would be much more educated then the man inside and would see justice firsthand. To be good, as Socrates puts it he will need to go back in an educate the others, to achieve the same knowledge that he has. In comparison to the real world, the trip out of the cave is the mind. My interpretation of the allegory is that Socrates is suggesting that him and his followers are the only ones who have dared to venture out of the cave and enlighten their minds with new ideas. Once they embark back into the cave however to bring back their new ideas they are not warmly welcomed. Plato says, Wouldn t they say of him that by going up above was neither prudent nor advisable? And if they could free their hands to seize and kill the man who had released and led one of them up, wouldn t they kill him.(12). In other words, the men inside the cave felt threatened by the man who was bringing men above the cave and wanted to get rid of him, just like Athens wanted to dispose ofShow MoreRelated The Apology1451 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper I will be discussing the four charges brought against Socrates in Plato’s essay The Apology# and why exactly each of these charges is completely fictitious. The four charges bro ught against Socrates were that he argued the physical over the metaphysical, he argued the weaker claim over the stronger claim, he went against the gods, and he was corrupting the youth (Singer, lecture, 9-15-11). 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This goes the same for trials throughout centuries in our past. Although they did not have the same forms of media as in this, modern era, there were still specific trials inRead MoreApology : The Apology Of Apology1399 Words   |  6 PagesThe Apology The Apology is meant to defend Socrates as he stands accused by Athens. Considering how Socrates presents his defense, it is evident that he only uses the title of apology as justification but not as a regret statement or expression of sorrow. The apology was made after Socrates was accused with ungodliness as well as corrupting the youth in Athens by alienating powerful people in the practice of Socratic dialogue. The Socratic dialogue is a process attempting to clarify concepts suchRead MoreBook Report on Apology Essay797 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Apology†, Socrates tackles his accusers against certain accusations made against him in the Court of Law of Athens, Greece. The nature of the accusation that has caused him to stand trial is such that â€Å"Socrates is an evil-doer, and a curious person, who searches into things under the earth and in heaven, and he makes the worse appear the better cause; and he teaches the aforesaid doctrines to others† (Plato. The Republic and other plays. pg-449. Doubleday publishing; New York- 1989). Socrates beginsRead MoreSpeech Analysis : The Apology 858 Words   |  4 Pagesdefense speech. Socrates uses the speech to defend his accusations against him. In the story, â€Å"The Apology† Socrates is on trial for accusation like, â€Å"corrupting the youth† and â€Å"impiety.† Through this following essay, According the following: what Socrates means of knowledge or wisdom and why he thought that knowledge/wisdom was the best means of happiness and perfecting the soul, what kind of knowledge is the best, how did he react to the oracle, and what we thought about his accusations in the court