Socrates was one of the wisest people to walk the earth, and he didn’t even know it. His questioning, reasoning, and expertise in the Apology convey the amount of wisdom he endowed. Through his statements, Socrates sounds like he contradicted himself, but rather, both statements made about obeying law and breaking the law are correct. Socrates said that he would obey the commands of the city, only if the commands were just. He should not be on trial, because he did nothing to invoke injustice upon himself. He committed no crime; therefore, he will continue practicing philosophy no matter what the consequence.
From all three arguments in the book, the most fundamental principle of Socrates is that the really important thing is not just to live, but to live well. Living a good life meant living a life without doing wrong, and not hurting his country and its citizens.. Socrates stated that the laws and the city could be destroyed if he escaped. The laws would lose their force, and a country without laws would be chaos. In addition to harming the city, Socrates thought he would harm the condition of his soul by escaping. His soul would be harmed if he harmed others by breaking the laws. Being responsible for harm to others would cause harm to his soul. Also, he did make a tacit agreement to follow the laws of Athens since he had lived under them for over seventy years, raised his children under them, and did not try to persuade the city to change them(Plato 54). According to Socrates, living justly also meant not breaking or disobeying the laws. To Socrates, nothing could be worse than breaking the laws and escape. Escaping from jail was a wrong action no matter what good reason he had, especially if this might bring harm to his country. Socrates declared, “One should never do wrong in return, nor mistreat any man, no matter how one has been mistreated” (Plato 49b). Socrates stated a truth, law breaking is unjust, while observance of laws is just, because laws are just. However, are all laws just? Should we obey all laws regarding the law itself is morally justice or
Socrates, in his conviction from the Athenian jury, was both innocent and guilty as charged. In Plato’s Five Dialogues, accounts of events ranging from just prior to Socrates’ entry into the courthouse up until his mouthful of hemlock, both points are represented. Socrates’ in dealing with moral law was not guilty of the crimes he was accused of by Meletus. Socrates was only guilty as charged because his peers had concluded him as such. The laws didn’t find Socrates guilty; Socrates was guilty because his jurors enforced the laws. The law couldn’t enforce itself. Socrates was accused of corrupting Athens’ youth, not believing in the gods of the city and creating his own gods. In the Euthyphro, Socrates defends himself against the blasphemous charges outside the courthouse to a priest Euthyphro. Socrates looks to the priest to tell him what exactly is pious so that he may educate himself as to why he would be perceived as impious. Found in the Apology, another of Plato’s Five Dialogues, Socrates aims to defend his principles to the five hundred and one person jury. Finally, the Crito, an account of Socrates’ final discussion with his good friend Crito, Socrates is offered an opportunity to escape the prison and his death sentence. As is known, Socrates rejected the suggestion. It is in the Euthyphro and the Apology that it can be deduced that Socrates is not guilty as charged, he had done nothing wrong and he properly defended himself. However, in the Crito, it is shown that Socrates is guilty only in the interpretation and enforcement of Athens’ laws through the court system and its jurors. Socrates’ accusations of being blasphemous are also seen as being treasonous.
Because of this unabashed honesty, Socrates ended up being brought to trial. Finally, he angered the people at the top, and he would pay for it. Since he could not be prosecuted solely based on his method, charges of corrupting the youth and of blasphemy were fabricated against him. The humiliation he inflicted was never intentional, but it angered everyone nonetheless. Plato, Socrates’ greatest student, witnessed the trial and narrated it the Apology; the aftermath is noted in the Crito. Socrates seemingly takes on a different stance in each of these stories in regards to obligation to the state. This paper will try to prove just the opposite; Socrates upholds justice in all events. You could in fact call him a patriot.
Therefore, to keep all of Socrates claims and arguments from contradicting, we must look at the agreements of Socrates accepting the punishment of death and the intent of Socrates to disobey the order to stop practicing philosophy separately. In both cases Socrates, as a citizen of Athens has agreed to do one of the three things listed earlier, stayed in Athens, and failed to persuade the Athenian Laws. Therefore, the only option left to avoid wronging the Athenian Laws would be to obey their orders. However, in the case in which Socrates was ordered by the Laws to stop practicing philosophy, he is willing to disobey. This allows two options, either Socrates is going against his own moral standards of not wronging another, or this agreement is somehow an unjust agreement. Assuming that Socrates is true to all his claims he would not wrong another under any circumstances. This leaves the agreement to obey the orders of the Athenian Laws to stop practicing philosophy as an unjust agreement.
Socrates (469-399 BC), an Athenian, challenged these ideas with his theory that “truth is real and that absolute standards do exist.” He felt that “Athens was being corrupted by the shameful doctrines of the Sophists.” Although Socrates did not formally write his teachings, his student, Plato, created a written record through various plays and writings that incorporated much dialogue around Socrates. (Other students also provided additional written accounts, but Plato is very well known.) These writings showcased the fundamentals of Socrates’ philosophy. Socrates “focused his attention on ethics rather than on studying the physical world.” He urged people to consider their actions and how they affected not only themselves, but also those around them and their society. From this belief arose one of Socrates’ most memorable phrases: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates believed that people should act ethically not only to benefit themselves, but also for the betterment of others and their society. Seeing how the Sophists used rhetoric to gain ...
Socrates political, moral and social obligations are linked to a theory called the Social Contract Theory. The overall intent of the social contract is meant to enhance the society we live in and promotes a sound, balanced, law abiding society. Socrates illustrates to Crito, that he must accept his punishment administered to him by Athens law. Furthermore, he exemplifies that the laws he has obeyed his entire life, allowed him to thrive within Athens (Friend). He indicates that he made a conscious decision, when he reached the age of maturity, he would reside in Athens. He was fully aware of the laws and how the Athenian government handled justice. Although, the social contract is not signed legal binding contract, Socrates feels fully obligated
Truth be told there is no real justice in Socrates? ?just city?. Servitude of those within his city is crucial to its function. His citizens are, in every aspect, slaves to the functionality of a city that is not truly their own. True justice can not be achieved through slavery and servitude, that which appears to be justice (and all for the sake of appearances) is all that is achieved. Within Socrates? city there is no room for identity, individuality, equality, or freedom, which are the foundations justice was built upon. These foundations are upheld within a proper democracy. In fact, the closest one can experience justice, on a political level, is through democracy.
Socrates' Trial
In 399 B.C., Socrates, a seventy year old man, was brought to trial. He faced several accusations of different sorts. Initially, the court had pronounced Socrates guilty. However, because the law had no penalty ordained for his offense, it was required of Socrates to propose his own penalty, or to take the one suggested by Meletos, the death penalty.
The Trial of Socrates
The trial of Socrates is an excellent source of events during the period in which Socrates lived and died. Athens was a democratic city with much pride in their freedom. Especially their freedom of speech. Socrates was a political philosopher who did not agree with these freedoms provided by the Athenic democracy.