Meletos Charges Socrates example essay topic

The accusers, Meletos, Any tos, and Lycos, are all young and trying to make a name for themselves. They begin by telling everyone not to be deceived and to take caution because Socrates is a "clever speaker". According to Socrates, the difference between him and his accusers is that he speaks the truth. He is on trial for two items, which include, corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates tells everyone that he has no experience with the court and he will speak the way he is used to by being honest and direct. Socrates explains that his behavior is from the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

The oracle was asked if anyone was wiser than Socrates was. The answer was no, there was no man wiser. He could not believe this oracle, so he sets out to disprove it by finding someone who is wiser. He goes to a politician, who is thought wise by himself and others. Socrates does not think this man to be wise and tells him so.

As a consequence, the politician hated Socrates and so did the others who heard the questioning. He questioned politicians, poets, and craftsmen. He finds that the poets do not write from knowledge, but by genius and inspiration. Meletos charges Socrates with being a corrupter of the youth, and he does not believe in the gods of the State, and has other new divinities of his own. Socrates makes three main points in his examination of Meletos. First, Meletos has accused Socrates of being the only corrupter, while everyone else improves the youth.

Second, if Socrates corrupts the youth, either it is intentional or unintentional. If the corruption was unintentional, then the court is not the place to resolve the problem. The other possibility is that he does not corrupt them at all. Third, in frustration, Meletos accuses Socrates of being nonbeliever, at the same time he claims Socrates teaches new gods. Thus, Meletos contradicts himself. Socrates argues that fear of death is foolish, because it is not known if death is a good or an evil, thus there is no reason to fear death.

Socrates claims that his mission is in service to God. Socrates does not throw himself on the mercy of the court. Many would bring in their children to win pity. However, he does mention that he has three young children and he tells the jury about their responsibility to ignore the appeals to pity and judge the truth. Despite Socrates's peach, the jury finds him guilty as charged. Meletos proposes death as punishment.

Instead, Socrates proposes retirement in a home for benefactors of the state. He examines possible penalties: death, imprisonment, a fine, or exile. The jury sentences him to death. Socrates remarks that his internal, guiding voice, which at times would warn him to refrain from certain actions, had not once interrupted his actions in his defense. If Socrates finds that they believe themselves to be wiser than they really are, he points out their mistake, thus educates them and himself.

[Socrates]", For if you put me to death, you will not easily find such another, really like something stuck on the state by the god, though it is rather laughable to say so; for the state is like a big thoroughbred horse, so big that he is a bit slow and heavy, and wants a gadfly to wake him up". (Plato 436) Socrates was just pointing out to the court that he is a gadfly sent to awaken the state. He tells the judges that he will not be found guilty because of 'evidence' and testimony; if he is found guilty, it will be because of the reputation that he has obtained. As Socrates deals with the charges, he is constantly talking about himself. If Socrates wanted to appease the judges so that he would not be found guilty, he could have made up or omit the parts about himself that caused so much trouble.

The fact that Socrates knows that he is being persecuted for who he is and that he honestly describes himself, shows that he is staying true to himself and his beliefs through his trial. Through reason, Socrates is constantly searching for the truth of what others think. Even though Socrates is sentenced to death he does not let that stop him. He will teach anyone who wants to listen up until his time comes and he has to go. He does not look at death as a bad thing because no one knows what happens once they die. Besides the fact that Socrates has been on the earth for seventy years and if his time has come he is ready to go.

In his mind he knows that he lived his life to the fullest and did was his mission told him to. Once he goes up to the heavens his god will be there to greet him and thank him for following through with the mission he was given. Socrates is the wisest of all men because he did not let anyone stand in his way of servicing his god..