Plato recounts the trial and execution of Socrates in his epic Apology. Socrates is on trial for being accused by fellow Athenians, Meletus, Anytus and Lycon on charges of: corrupting the youth, not believing in the gods, and scrutinizing the people of Athens of their personal beliefs. Socrates was put on trial to defend himself, but he didn’t show any remorse and boldly defended his beliefs. He asked the jury to judge him, not on his pretentious acts, but to judge him on truth. Socrates states, “There are plenty of persons, as they quickly discover, who think they know something, but really know little or nothing; and then those who are examined by them instead of being angry with themselves are angry with me.” Socrates challenged the Athenians personal beliefs in hopes of guiding them to live a life with morality; to not humiliate or insult them, but to challenge them, to question themselves and what they thought. He believed that the search for wisdom and the teachings of others through analysis and dialogue were the greatest goals in life. The democratic city of Athens not only resented Socrates because of his philosophical teachings, but also for mocking their intelligence. The Athenian society convicted and killed Socrates all based on fear, the fear to be challenged, and the fear to change. In this paper, I will outline the attitude the Athenian society had towards Socrates’ philosophy, and the unjust of his conviction.
Socrates made it his responsibility to question the people of Athens with established reputations. Throughout the trial, Socrates approaches why he has developed a bad reputation with the city of Athens. He states, “What has caused my reputation is none other than a certain kind of wisdom. What kind of wisdom? Human wis ...