Socrates, in his usual manner, puts a question to himself. If he has done nothing wrong then why are there so many rumors against him? He answers himself by saying that his troubles began when he tried to find the wisest man in Athens. During his search he found that, just because an individual was wise in one field, that person assumed that he was equally wise in everything. Socrates proved such wise men wrong in their assumptions, and this was how he made enemies. The young people who followed him asked similar questions, which upset more people, creating still more enemies who then charged that Socrates was corrupting the young.
Socrates then talks about his friend Chaerephon, who had died but was still well known to the citizens of Athens. The two of them went to Delphi to ask the oracle who the wisest of men was. The oracle identified that that man as Socrates and announced that there was no one wiser. Socrates had found this reply very puzzling and then tried to find out what the oracle meant.
Socrates felt that he was not the wisest of men. If he was not, however, then what could the oracle mean, as the oracle does not lie. In his inquiries he went to a political public figure of note, whose name he withholds. This political figure appeared to be wise to many people and thought himself so as well. Socrates showed him that, though this man thought he was wise, in reality he was not, and for this reason this unnamed individual disliked Socrates. It was then that Socrates came to his conclusion that neither he nor the prominent politician knew anything worthwhile. However, the difference between the two was that, when the prominent politician thought he knew things that in reality he did not, he believed that he did. On the other hand, “when I,” Socrates explains, “do not know something, I do not think that I do. Hence, to a certain extent I am likely to be wiser than the politician, in that I know what it is that I do not know.” Socrates says that he has repeated this line of argument with many people and so has ended up making many enemies. This was when Socrates realized that he was becoming very unpopular with the Athenian people. Nevertheless, he had felt that what the oracle had said was true, and that his investigations were in the service of The Goddess at Delphi. Socrates had thus concluded that those who had the highest reputation were usually the most deficient in knowledge, while those who thought they were inferior were, in reality, more knowledgeable.
Socrates then explains that he continued his examination in fields other than politics. He asked the poets to explain their poems and found that they could not. Instead the common folk were better at explaining them than the authors themselves. From this finding, Socrates states, he concluded that poets had talent and inspiration and said fine things, but they did so without understanding their own works. Because of their poetry they thought that they were wise in other matters as well, but in reality they were not.
Socrates then notes that he has examined people in other walks of life. He has found that craftsmen knew many more things about their craft than he did. However, these craftsmen then felt that, since they knew so much about their craft, they must also be wise in other things as well. Demonstrably they were not.
Then Socrates, on behalf of the oracle, asks himself whether he should prefer to be what he is, neither wise nor ignorant, or whether he should admit to being both. The answer he gives to himself and to the oracle is that it is to his advantage to be what he is. This conclusion Socrates proposes, has resulted in his making many enemies.
Socrates believes that the oracle was correct in saying that “human wisdom is worth nothing.” He understands that wisdom is worthless. The young people who follow Socrates question others who think that they are wise and try to prove them wrong. Because of such followers, Socrates has collected many enemies who say that he corrupts the young. However, when he has turned around and asked his enemies how he corrupts the young, they have been unable to answer him. These critics fall back on the spurious accusations hurled at all philosophers who maintain that philosophers inquire: “about those things in the sky and things below the earth” and then assert that: “they do not believe in The Gods and make the weaker argument more appealing than the stronger argument.” These accusers will not accept that their claim to knowledge is bogus.
Meletus has accused Socrates on behalf of poets, craftsmen, and orators. Socrates reiterates that he has told the truth and hidden nothing and that his self-defense must then be what makes him unpopular.
As for the other charges brought against Socrates by Meletus, the deposition says that Socrates was guilty of corrupting the young and not believing in The Gods of Athens. Instead of directly defending himself, Socrates promotes new spiritual ideas. He turns this argument around telling Meletus that he is irresponsible for bringing people to court and professing to care for things that he has never cared about before. Socrates points out that as Meletus seems to know only those who corrupt the young, why can he not say who improves them? At first Meletus remains silent, but on further prodding he answers this question with a brief response – “the laws.” Socrates accuses him of evading the question and asks who has knowledge of the laws? Socrates continues, stating that it appears that everyone improves the young but only Socrates corrupts them, an argument that he finds preposterous. He asks Meletus if it is better to live amongst good or wicked fellow citizens? “Don’t the wicked do some harm and the good provide some benefits?” Meletus agrees to this hypothesis. Socrates then asks whether a man would rather be harmed or benefited. Is there any man who wants to be harmed? Meletus agrees that there is no such man. Socrates continues his questions, asking Meletus if he believes that Socrates corrupts the young deliberately or unwillingly? Meletus replies: “deliberately.” Socrates then asks whether Meletus believes that he does not believe in The Gods at all and considers him to be an atheist? Meletus replies that indeed, he thinks that Socrates is an atheist. Socrates replies that, just as other people do, he believes in the sun and moon as Gods. Meletus refutes that statement. Socrates turns the question around and asks Meletus whether he is also prosecuting Anaxagoras, the astronomer? Does Meletus know that people can buy books by Anaxagoras for a small sum and learn all about The Gods, without any help from Socrates? Socrates then questions Meletus further about the so-called “spiritual things.” They both agree that if Socrates talks about spiritual things, he must believe in spirits. Now, Socrates points out that spirits are either Gods or children of Gods and thus if Socrates believes in them he cannot be an atheist and so Meletus is contradicting himself. Socrates agrees that he is unpopular with many people and that this reputation might be his undoing. He allows that some would question him about following an occupation that puts him in danger of death, but he asserts that death is better than disgrace. If a person’s actions are correct, then his death is of no consequence. He reminds the jury that, during the battle of Troy, Achilles, is prepared to kill Hector to avenge the death of his comrade, Patroclus. The Goddess Athena has warned him that, if he kills Hector, his own death will soon follow. Achilles replies, saying that he despises death and danger, but is afraid of living as a coward if he does not avenge his comrade’s death. Socrates underscores that Achilles was prepared to die rather than live, saying that death may be the greatest blessing and men should not fear it.
Socrates summarizes his defense by saying that, if he had to promise never to practice philosophy again to spare his life, he would reject that offer. He goes on to say that he would continue to persuade young people to care not for their own bodies or for wealth, but only for their souls. Wealth does not bring excellence, but excellence brings wealth. Whether the jury passes the sentence of death or not, Socrates states, what he said earlier will be his course of action. He further adds that if they do sentence him to death they will do more harm to themselves than to him. He says that Meletus and the others can put him to death but they can not harm him. Socrates ends his defense and refuses to plead for any favors or for his life.
The jury finds Socrates guilty, and Meletus asks for the death penalty. Socrates comments that he is not angry with anyone but that he is surprised that he was convicted by such a very small majority. Despite the verdict he still does not consider himself guilty of any of the charges.
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