How Does Socrates Corrupt Youth

24c, of Apology, written by Plato about Socrates’ trial, starts off with Meletus accusing Socrates of corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates claims that if either of them is doing wrong it is Meletus because he involves himself in things that he does not really interested in or cares about. Socrates proves that Meletus is not concerned about the youth and also that he himslef is not a corrupter of the youth by asking Meletus a number of questions along with questions he answers himself. First he asks who would be the good influence for the youth, since he is considered to be the only corrupter. Meletus has no answer, to which Socrates replies “Do you see, Meletus, that you are silent and cannot tell? And yet does it not seem to you disgraceful and a sufficient proof of what I say, that you have never cared about it?” (24d). Socrates proves that Meletus has not even given thought to his accusations and to the youth in general. Socrates continues to ask for an answer and Meletus claims the laws make the youth better, but Socrates does not accept this answer because he asked who makes them better not what. Meletus claims that the judges, senators, and assemblymen all improve the youth of Athens, implying that Socrates is the only person of corruption to the youth. So
The second step of the argument is that there are only a certain number of specialized people who can train horses and make them better, but anyone could hurt them. The third step is that if the argument also applies to other animals including humans and therefore most of society corrupts the youth and there are only a select few who improve them. The final step is that Meletus thinks all of Athens improves the youth, but if Socrates argument is valid Meletus is obviously not aware of who actually does. Socrates also explains that the city would be very blessed if he were the only one harming the