Why Is Socrates Wrong

In 399 BCE Socrates was wrongfully put to death. The charges and verdict were posted in the metroon (Greek temple): "Socrates is guilty of refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state and introducing other, new divinities. He is also guilty of corrupting the youth. The penalty demanded is death," (Socrates). Regardless of the laws at the time, and the amount of discretion given to the court, the wrong moral decision was made. Socrates’ famous student, Plato, wrote about trial in Apology, and Xenophon wrote in Socrates’ defense in Memorabilia.

Socrates became famous for his teaching and philosophies. The Socratic Method involves following questions to their logical conclusion to reach the truth (The Socratic Method). Socrates encouraged this behavior with anyone he met. Questioning everything was important to Socrates, and gods were no exception. Socrates persistence and conviction in
arguing his point earned him so much fame that others found his ideas too dangerous to let continue. This inspired the charges for impiety and corrupting the youth.

Since Socrates came to conclusions such as: good liars are good liars because they lie on purpose, and other unconventional ideas that went against what was popularly accepted (Dialogues 39-62).
Those in power were threatened that Socrates’ influence would cause the youth to revolt against traditional Greek life and values. While none of Socrates’ accusers have come outright and stated so, by examining the evidence and charges against Socrates, his wrongful execution is most likely accurate.

Xenophon wrote in defense of Socrates, citing plenty of examples directly disputing the court’s decision.

“In the first place, that he did not respect the gods whom the city respects, what proof did they bring? For he was seen frequently sacrificing at home, and frequently on the public altars of the city; nor was it unknown that he used divination; as it was a common subject of talk that “Socrates used to say that the divinity instructed him;’ and it was from this circumstance, indeed, that they seem chiefly to have derived the charge of introducing new deities.” – Xenophon
(XENOPHON)

Plato’s account of Socrates’ trial is likely a mix of the truth, as he was present at the trial, and the memory he had of Socrates. No one knew Socrates better than Plato, so it is likely that where Plato’s memory fell short he attributed dialogue that he knew would be appropriate for Socrates in its place. Plato only writes Socrates’ defense, and does not include the dialogue of the accusers.

Plato demonstrates Socrates’ humbleness, as he does in all dialogues including Socrates, in the opening statement of Apology. Socrates quickly dismisses his accusers for saying he is “eloquent,” and that is how he corrupts the youth.

“To say this, when they were certain to be detected as soon as I opened my lips and proved myself to be anything but a great speaker, did indeed appear to me most shameless—unless by the force of eloquence they mean the for of truth; for if such is their meaning, I admit that I am eloquent.” – Socrates (Dialogues 277).

This quotation is a testament to Socrates’ character: his humility and humor. This behavior is prominent throughout all documentation regarding Socrates, so there is little reason to doubt its legitimacy.

While Socrates gave the impression that he wanted to live, he minimalized his argument and attributed the reason he defended himself at all to be to spare the Athenians from living with the evil of killing an innocent man. He destroyed the argument of Meletus, his main accuser, by pointing out the contradiction in the accusation. Meletus had accused Socrates of not believing in the gods, but also inventing gods.

“But this is what I call the facetious riddle invented by you: the demigods or spirits are gods, and you say first that I do not believe in gods, and then again that I do believe in gods; that is, if I believe in demigods. For if the demigods are the illegitimate sons of gods, whether by the nymphs or by any other mothers, of whom they are said to be the sons—what human being will ever believe that there are no gods if they are the sons of gods? You might as well affirm the existence of mules, and deny that of horses and asses.” – Socrates (Dialogues 286)

Socrates argued effortlessly and expertly as always. The aforementioned quotation is enough to dispel any charges of impiety. Socrates was found guilty with 280 votes for and 220 against (WLU). As required by his character, he accepted his punishment to drink hemlock. The last lines of Apology read, “The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways—I to die, and you to live. Which is better god only knows,”