Plato topic#1 Do you think these charges are legitimate? Is this a fair trial?

                      A wise man’s death

I have to say that I was astonished when I read the Apology. How could such a great person be found guilty for these ridiculous charges in a state well-known for its democracy?

Socrates has two kinds of accusers, the old ones and the present ones. His first accusers accused him for engaging in inquiries into things beneath the earth and in the heavens, of making the weaker arguments appear the stronger and of teaching others for the same things (Plato, 23). And his present accusers impeach him of corrupting the young, and of believing not in the gods whom the state believed in, but in new divinities (29).However, in my expression all these charges are illegitimate.

 For Socrates’ first accusers, who hold of most of the people when they were children and indicted Socrates for never believed in the gods (22), are doing so because of the Socrates’ wisdom. After Chaerephon asked the oracle which said that no one was wiser than Socrates (25), Socrates began to investigate at god’s command. He cross-examined others whom are reputed to be wise, and from this examination, indignation and prejudices arose. These people who didn’t admit their ignorance had been accusing him for many years.

And for his present accusers, Meletus, Anytus and Lycon, their charges are approximately the same with the former ones, but there are still some little differences. Firstly, has Socrates corrupted the young voluntarily? If he has, he must make his companions evil, and then these bad citizens would do harm to himself. But no one likes to be injured, so does Socrates. So he couldn’t corrupt the young voluntarily or he hasn’t corrupted them at all. (31) Secondly, Meletus says that Socrates doesn’t believe in the gods in any way by teaching” the sun is a stone and the moon is earth”. However, these words are from others’ works and everyone could buy these works from the theater (32). And this is also contradicted to the charge that Socrates believes in new divinities (33). Otherwise, Socrates never teaches anyone knowledge, instead he teaches people critical thinking. How could he corrupt the young by leading them to think themselves (40)?

Overall, I have to say these charges are all absurd and illegitimate. And the trial is unfair, too. On one hand, the process of the trial isn't just enough. Socrates cannot let everyone who accuses him to spar with him in court, and if he put qustions, no one could answer (23).And on the other hand, the people who vote for the verdict are unjust, too. As I have mentioned above, Socrates’ first accusers got hold of most of the people when they were children. This prejudice has rooted deeply in their mind and I don’t think it can be changed immediately. And what's more, the law is unjust. To finish a trial of life and death in a single day is so careless. The time is not enough for Socrates to clear himself of great prejudice. Though Socrates has the chance to defend for himself, the trial is still unfair.

                     Work Cited

Plato. Euthyphro, Apology,Crito. Upper Sadder River: Prentice Hall, 1948