The Apology of Socrates begins with Socrates addressing the jury of perhaps 500 Athenian men to ask if they have been persuaded by the Orators Lycon, Anytus, and Meletus , who have accused Socrates of corrupting the young people of the city and impiety against the pantheon of Athens.
Who was accused of corrupting the youth?
The trial of Socrates (399 BC) was held to determine the philosopher's guilt of two charges: asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens, and corruption of the youth of the city-state; the accusers cited two impious acts by Socrates: “failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges” and “introducing new ...
Who was Socrates accused of corrupting?
At his trial, Socrates was accused of two things: impiety (asebeia) against Athens' gods by introducing new gods and the corruption of Athenian youth by teaching them to question the status quo.
Who first accused Socrates?
Meletus – the “Principal Accuser:” A poet named Meletus started the prosecution against Socrates. Most scholars, however, think he was acting on behalf of the best-known and most influential of the three accusers, Anytus. Meletus brought two related charges against Socrates.
Which man was accused of corrupting the Athenian youth?
He wrote nothing himself, so all that is known about him is filtered through the writings of a few contemporaries and followers, most notably his student Plato. Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and sentenced to death.
Why would Socrates not intentionally corrupt the youth?
Why would Socrates not intentionally corrupt the youth of Athens? Because Socrates argued it is better to dwell among fellow citizens who are good . ... After hearing what the oracle said about him Socrates goes to the politicians, craftsmen, and orators to prove the oracle wrong.
How does Socrates answer the charge of corrupting the youth?
Socrates responds to the charge that he is guilty of corrupting the youth, in two ways. ... Under questioning from Socrates, Meletus grants that all of the citizens of Athens except Socrates benefit the youth of Athens; Socrates alone corrupts them .
What did Socrates say in the apology?
In the Apology of Socrates, Plato cites no total numbers of votes condemning or acquitting the philosopher of the accusations of moral corruption and impiety; Socrates says that he would have been acquitted if thirty more jurors had voted in his favour.
What was Socrates goal in the apology?
Plato's teacher Socrates was found guilty of corrupting the youth by the courts of Athens and subsequently executed. The Apology describes the proceeds of the trial. Socrates's goal in Plato's Apology was never to defend himself, but to continue doing his life's work of exposing falsehood in others .
How did Socrates try to teach others?
How did Socrates try to teach others? He taught others by asking them questions . In this way he led his students to think about their beliefs. ... Socrates was accused, by his enemies, of not honoring the gods and of leading young people into error and disloyalty.
What punishment did Socrates give the judge?
Socrates was condemned to death for impiety and corrupting the minds of Athenians. After the death sentence Socrates made no complaint. He told his pupils that no harm could come to a good man in life or after death.
What does Socrates compare himself to?
Socrates compares himself to a gadfly , who stings the lazy horse that is Athens, provoking it into action. ... In closing, Socrates points out that the youth he has supposedly corrupted, including Plato, are upright men who still stand by him.
Who believed in absolute truth?
Socrates believed that absolute truth, goodness, and evil did exist.
What does corrupting the youth mean?
I'd been interested in meeting Toole ever since I learned about the program she founded in 2016 called “Corrupt the Youth”—a phrase that sounds like the name of a punk band or a strain of pot, but in fact refers to a criminal charge brought against the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates for encouraging the young people ...
Does Socrates believe it is possible to intentionally corrupt the youth?
Therefore, Socrates would never intentionally corrupt the youth (p. 56). Socrates goes on to argue that even if he was unwillingly corrupting the youth of Athens, Meletus' charges would still hold no real value as it would be an involuntary misdemeanor (p. 56).
What does Socrates say at his trial concerning the unexamined life?
The Unexamined Life. After the jury has convicted Socrates and sentenced him to death, he makes one of the most famous proclamations in the history of philosophy. He tells the jury that he could never keep silent, because “ the unexamined life is not worth living for human beings ” (Apology 38a).
