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The trial of Socrates is the central, unifying event of the great Socratic dialogues. Because of this, Socrates' Apology is perhaps the most often read of the dialogues. In the Apology, Socrates tries to dismiss rumors that he is a sophist, a wise man, and defends himself against charges of not believing in the gods and corruption of the young. Socrates insists that long-standing slander will be the real cause of his demise, and says the legal charges are essentially false. Socrates famously denies being wise, and explains how his life as a philosopher was launched by the oracle at Delphi. He says that his quest to resolve the riddle of the oracle put him at odds with his fellow man, and this is the reason he has been mistaken for a menace to the city-state of Athens.
The trial of Socrates is anomalous: from what is known about Athens in the fifth century BCE, it should not have taken place (see Gorgias 461e and Crito 45e). Atheism or similar charges were not a crime in free-speech Athens. It was not even unusual among intellectuals, nor condemned by the masses. The prize-winning plays of Aristophanes were not merely atheist, but made fun of the gods and their prophets and oracles. There is no record that Aristophanes was prosecuted for atheism, and some have speculated that comics enjoyed special immunities. However, there is no evidence of this. It is also puzzling that Socrates exonerates himself in large part by claiming to be sent on his philosophic mission by Apollo, an important figure in the standard Greek pantheon.
The charge of corruption of the young is harder to dismiss. Plato depicts Socrates as a flirt, and his romantic attentions are not confined to adults. One dialog in particular, the Charmides, pictures Socrates becoming aroused as the sight of a boy's private parts. The Apology gives no sense that the legal charges implied corruption of a sexual nature, and tradition interprets the corruption as moral/intellectual in nature. Socrates says in the Apology that he has merely advised the young men who are slanderously termed his disciples that they should care more about virtue than their careers, public service, or families. Attention to such things was the mark of virtue in ancient Athens. This "moral misunderstanding" has captivated history ever since Plato told the story.
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Source: Wikipedia
The trial of Socrates is anomalous: from what is known about Athens in the fifth century BCE, it should not have taken place (see Gorgias 461e and Crito 45e). Atheism or similar charges were not a crime in free-speech Athens. It was not even unusual among intellectuals, nor condemned by the masses. The prize-winning plays of Aristophanes were not merely atheist, but made fun of the gods and their prophets and oracles. There is no record that Aristophanes was prosecuted for atheism, and some have speculated that comics enjoyed special immunities. However, there is no evidence of this. It is also puzzling that Socrates exonerates himself in large part by claiming to be sent on his philosophic mission by Apollo, an important figure in the standard Greek pantheon.
The charge of corruption of the young is harder to dismiss. Plato depicts Socrates as a flirt, and his romantic attentions are not confined to adults. One dialog in particular, the Charmides, pictures Socrates becoming aroused as the sight of a boy's private parts. The Apology gives no sense that the legal charges implied corruption of a sexual nature, and tradition interprets the corruption as moral/intellectual in nature. Socrates says in the Apology that he has merely advised the young men who are slanderously termed his disciples that they should care more about virtue than their careers, public service, or families. Attention to such things was the mark of virtue in ancient Athens. This "moral misunderstanding" has captivated history ever since Plato told the story.
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Source: Wikipedia
Overview
A community portal about Plato with blogs, videos, and photos. According to Wikipedia.org: Plato , whose real name is believed to have been Aristocles, was an immensely influential ancient Greek philosopher, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens where Aristotle studied. Plato is widely believed to have been a...more
A community portal about Plato with blogs, videos, and photos. According to Wikipedia.org: Plato , whose real name is believed to have been Aristocles, was an immensely influential ancient Greek philosopher, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens where Aristotle studied. Plato is widely believed to have been a student of Socrates and to have been deeply influenced by his unjust execution.
