If it hadn't been for his trial and ultimate execution, it is very possible that we would not be studying him today. These events were so dramatic and the principles they embodied so profound that they elevated Socrates to a near mythic level. Apology is a term that refers to a philosophical defense of an action or view point. At the age of seventy Socrates finds himself at the court of Athens on trial for his life due to allegations that he has "corrupted the youth" and that "he does not believe in the gods whom the state believes in, but in other divinities." These charges were merely a cover for more sinister forces at work. Socrates was unpopular with many influential citizens because he encouraged people throughout his life not to blindly accept authority. Instead he insisted that people think for themselves. Several years before the trial, the son of Anytus had studied with Socrates and was so inspired that he decided to pursue philosophy instead of working in the family leather-tanning business. Enraged by this Anytus arranged for Meletus, a young poet, to bring the obviously concocted charges against Socrates.
ANALYSIS OF THE APOLOGY (DEFENCE):
The accusers have attempted to undermine Socrates effectiveness by warning the jury not to be misled by his cleverness as a speaker. Socrates recognizes this threat to his credibility and turn the threat back against his accusers by asserting that his only cleverness is "speaking the truth," and if this is what they mean, then he is indeed clever. He chooses to express himself as clearly as possible and requests that the court focus solely on the content of what he is saying and the justice of the ideas.
Socrates acknowledges the difficulty of overcoming deeply ingrained prejudices. Throughout his life there have been those who have spread malicious lies about him, constructing an untrue portrayal of him as one "who speculates about the heavens" and who doesn't "believe in the gods." The difficulty of the situation arises from the fact that the young men comprising the jury began hearing these lies as children, when their minds were still malleable. So to judge him fairly, they're going to have to think critically by becoming aware of and setting aside their prejudices against him. He illuminates the accumulated prejudices against him by people whom he has publicly revealed to be ignorant pretenders to knowledge they don't possess.
Socrates then begins to deconstruct the charge that he has been corrupting the young. Socrates explores the question: "What is the process of shaping a people's thinking and character?" Meletus acknowledges that numerous people influence our development over a long period of time. But if that's the case then how is it possible that Socrates, as a solitary individual, could possibly nullify the influence of all the people the youth of Athens have been taught and influenced by? He also asks Meletus, what incentive he would have to influence the youth of Athens to be evil. Creating evil disciples would only end up hurting himself in the end, and so it only makes sense that he has been trying to influence people to be good. If he has made mistakes in this quest, they have obviously been unintentional, in which case he should be educated, not punished.
Having demolished the charge of corrupting the youth, Socrates now addresses the allegation that he "does not believe in the gods whom the state believes in, but in other new divinities." Socrates begins by demanding a clear definition of the key concepts under discussion. Meletus forced to commit himself to a precise definition of what he means, rather than hiding behind the vague characterization of "corrupting the youth by teaching them new divinities," makes Meletus claim that Socrates does not believe in the gods in any way, that he is a complete atheist. But Meletus has already acknowledged that Socrates believes in some gods, just not the state approved gods. So Meletus now finds himself in the position of maintaining that Socrates does not believe in the gods, but believes in the gods. Therefore contradicting himself. Socrates is innocent with respect to the charges brought against him, but he recognizes that those charges are masquerading more sinister forces attempting to destroy him. Socrates predicts that his fate is already decided and that he will be found guilty for reasons that had nothing to do with the official charges against him. Yet despite this belief, Socrates had no intention of providing the court with an easy way out of the situation. He realized that if he promised to cease the philosophical activity that he had practiced for his whole life, the court would not likely sentence him to death. But he wanted to make it clear that discontinuing his life work was not an opinion that he would ever consider. If they were intent on finding him guilty, then they would have to take the responsibility in sentencing him to death.
Socrates is now ready to make his final statement to the court before they pass judgement on him. Although it was common for the accused to plead for mercy and even bring friends and relatives in to induce the sympathy of the judges and jury, Socrates found this sort of conduct distasteful and inappropriate. He felt strongly that the court should render it's decision based on a fair and just interpretation of the case against him, a case that was transparently false and laughable.
Socrates was found guilty by 281 votes to 220. It seems incredible that Socrates could have been found guilty, based on such flimsy, unsubstantial charges.
In some way Socrates is different from the mass of mankind. Even in his closing statement, his concern is for the souls of his judges and for the Athens in general, for he knows that they will soon regret such an unjust persecution. He was a person for whom his principles were more important than anything, even his own life. Its for this reason that Socrates refused to make emotional appeals to the court. As Socrates points out, appealing to the court for pity or sympathy to influence them to find him innocent or lessen his punishment is illogical, and it would be a violation of their oaths to decide the case based on justice. Although Socrates is convinced that he has proven conclusively that the charges against him are false, he does not want to be found innocent for the wrong-illogical-reasons.
In the Athenian legal system, once a person was found guilty and a punishment was proposed, the convicted person was entitled to propose a lesser punishment. In Socrates case, Meletus and Anytus have asked for the death penalty. An appropriate counter-proposal would be on the order of agreeing to exile or paying a substantial fine. But again Socrates departs from the norm. Socrates fails to demonstrate either remorse or respect for the power of the court. It was customary for men facing the death penalty to take extreme measures, pleading for mercy, covering themselves with dirt and tearing their clothes off to symbolize their remorse, rolling on the ground while wailing in anguish. Socrates didn't do any of this. Instead, he revealed the errors of their thinking in convicting him and warned them against corrupting their souls if they didn't act justly. Rather than propose serious courterpenalties, he recommended that the court award him a special honor for his years of service to Athens and provide him with a pension. Instead of offering to pay a hefty fine, he suggested paying a comparatively small amount. Socrates displays clearly his total contempt for the bogus case that had been brought against him and his moral disproval of the role that the judges and jury were playing in the dispute against him. Not surprisingly, the court was not amused, and they did not like his remarks regarding his couterpenalties. Eighty men who voted to find him innocent switched sides to recommend the death penalty. He was condemned to death by a vote of 361 to 140.
Socrates seems to understand that, despite the people he has annoyed and the enemies he has made, his reputation as a wise and honest man is secure and that once the hysteria surrounding his trial has been punctured by his death, the majority of people will come to their senses and recognize the enormous folly-and injustice-of what they have done. This is precisely what happened. Within a few days following his execution, the city of Athens declared a period of mourning. And in ironic reversal of fortune, his chief accuser, Meletus, was condemned to death, and Anytus was exiled. Socrates understood that his death was necessary in order for his revolutionary beliefs to have their fullest impact on future generations. In the face of death Socrates is unwavering in his certainty that he has lived a life that is just and true, and he is secure in his confidence that no harm can come to one who has lived such a life. For a just and true individual, death is not something to be feared.
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