Socrates' Apology for Philosophy
The apology begins with what appears to be Socrates' opening remarks to defend himself against the charges of impiety and corrupting the youth before his fellow Athenians in an Athenian court. To defend himself against these charges he feels that he first has to defend himself against his earlier accusers who have slandered him. He characterizes his earlier accusers as gentlemen, who have for many years filled the jurors' minds from childhood on, with false accusations saying:
There is a wise man called Socrates, a student of all things in the sky and below the earth, who makes the worse argument the stronger (18b).
He sees these earlier accusers as dangerous, not only because of their sheer number, but also because of their anonymity and the fact that they have been spreading their lies for many years causing their hearers to think that those who study these things (wise men) are atheists. Socrates' later accusers consists of anytus, meletus and lycon, who claim that Socrates is impious, that is, believes in false gods or no gods at all, and by his teachings corrupt the youth.
Socrates' defense against his earlier accusers stems from the fact that he feels that they have called him a sophist. Sophists were wise men who wandered about Athens teaching various subjects like physics, mathematics, rhetoric, e.t.c, and for their services they charged fees. Later sophists tended to concentrate more on rhetoric- the art of public speaking, and being able to speak eloquently. And yet Socrates thought it was a good thing to be able to teach people as some sophists like Gorgias of Leontini did, and would have b ...