Socrates: Fearless At The Trial

Socrates; Fearless At The Trial.

‘The Apology’ by Plato was specifically on Socrates trial. The word Apology was gotten from the Latin word ‘apologia’ that means defense and was shown by Socrates. When he was at the age of seventy he had been convicted for breaking the law against ‘impiety’. This was for offending the Olympian gods (Zeus, Apollo and the rest of them), which people in the city ‘Athens’ obeyed and prayed to (17). Socrates was allowed to defend himself from the accusers in which he gives a brief history of his life and his moral commitment but he did not apologize for any conduct. Socrates believed in speaking the truth, which was his true character. He is an …show more content…
Socrates then asks the jury whether any of them has ever heard from him speak about all what he has been accused of so that they will believe all these accusations given upon him are wrong. He was also accused of teaching people and charging a fee, which he says, is not true, he did not say a lot about the accusation, rather, he compared himself with other successful speakers who move from city to city to teach the young people and at the end collect a fee. He says he is different from these people and that he claims to have no skill or knowledge in any field or whatsoever Meletus accused him of. Socrates says he is not afraid of any accusations because he knows he is innocent and so Meletus can bring as many cases against him, but he knows that he is not …show more content…
He began to face his new accusers who brought him to the trial. Socrates reminds the court that the accused him of believing in a god that is not known by the Athenians and also corrupting the youth. Socrates then calls upon Meletus, his accuser, to interrogate just to prove himself wrong of his accusations. But before Socrates started, he told the jury to mind his manner of language. Socrates tells the jury that, Meletus is guilty of bring up a false issue and bringing people into court for no just course. Socrates began to prove that the accusation he laid on Meletus was true by asking Meletus who improved the youth if he corrupts them. Meletus replied by saying that, everybody including the law, the council, the assembly improves the youth except Socrates. Socrates also asked Meletus, if it was possible to speak of spirit but not believe in them? And, if it was possible to believe in the children of the gods and not believing in the gods themselves? For there is nowhere to believe in children and not believe that their parents exist; Socrates asked Meletus why he is being accused of not believing in the gods? Meletus admitted that Socrates believed in the spirits and gods. Socrates’ defense with Meletus was a quick defense. All these questions Socrates asked leads Meletus to claim that wicked people like Socrates deliberately hurt those who are closer to him and do good to those who do him good.

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