What Is Socrates Duty
Socrates life, trial, and death are all important parts of history. This man was a philosopher in Athens who believed in using reason to explain different aspects of life. During his lifetime, he not only tried to help develop his own mind and understanding of life, but also those around him. He often strove to enlighten the adolescence and get them to utilize their minds. Socrates enjoyed enriching the younger generations because their minds were still open and most were docile. However, his views varied from the majority of the world around him. Others did not care for his methods and for this very reason he was put on trial. His ordeal was one of the first of its kind, he stood up for what he believed in even if it was just him against the
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Socrates, in disbelief, went from writers, to poets, to politicians, to workers and craftsman but found the same outcome with all of them. He stated, “O men of Athens, that God only is wise; and by his answer he intends to show that the wisdom of men is worth little or nothing” (Plato, trans. 1871). Socrates made it his duty in life to analysis and understand the Oracle’s declaration. In the end, Socrates concluded that he was the wisest of Athens; but not because he possessed special knowledge but because he recognized his own lack of knowledge while others think they know, but do not. Socrates wanted the freedom to think, question, reason, and believe. He claimed that his mission was God given, which consisted of improving the morality of the Athenian state. By trying to fulfill his prophecy he made others feel incompetent and uncomfortable which, as a result, put him on trial. “Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth and not believing in the cities gods” (Dean, 2014). While on trial, he switched things up so that everyone’s focus wouldn’t be on him but on Meletus, the chief accuser of his crimes. Socrates had such a way of questioning things that it made people question themselves and see things in a different perspective. Socrates addressed each charge separately, starting with the corruption of the youth. Socrates questioned Meletus, which led Meletus to believe that the entire population of Athens has a positive influence on the youth, with the single exception of Socrates. It’s safe to say that Socrates felt the youth had already been corrupted and that he was simply asking them to clarify their positions. It’s astounding how nowhere in the, Apology, does it state that someone was actually corrupted and no one claimed that they’d been corrupted either. Also, in Meletus’ charges he accuses Socrates of not believing in any Gods. To prove Meletus wrong, Socrates
Socrates, in disbelief, went from writers, to poets, to politicians, to workers and craftsman but found the same outcome with all of them. He stated, “O men of Athens, that God only is wise; and by his answer he intends to show that the wisdom of men is worth little or nothing” (Plato, trans. 1871). Socrates made it his duty in life to analysis and understand the Oracle’s declaration. In the end, Socrates concluded that he was the wisest of Athens; but not because he possessed special knowledge but because he recognized his own lack of knowledge while others think they know, but do not. Socrates wanted the freedom to think, question, reason, and believe. He claimed that his mission was God given, which consisted of improving the morality of the Athenian state. By trying to fulfill his prophecy he made others feel incompetent and uncomfortable which, as a result, put him on trial. “Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth and not believing in the cities gods” (Dean, 2014). While on trial, he switched things up so that everyone’s focus wouldn’t be on him but on Meletus, the chief accuser of his crimes. Socrates had such a way of questioning things that it made people question themselves and see things in a different perspective. Socrates addressed each charge separately, starting with the corruption of the youth. Socrates questioned Meletus, which led Meletus to believe that the entire population of Athens has a positive influence on the youth, with the single exception of Socrates. It’s safe to say that Socrates felt the youth had already been corrupted and that he was simply asking them to clarify their positions. It’s astounding how nowhere in the, Apology, does it state that someone was actually corrupted and no one claimed that they’d been corrupted either. Also, in Meletus’ charges he accuses Socrates of not believing in any Gods. To prove Meletus wrong, Socrates