ld just use honesty and directness. He also explained that he behaved in the way that he did because of a prophecy by the oracle at Delphi, which claimed that he was the wisest of all men. Recognizing that he was ignorant in most th

He could have accepted a smaller punishment. However, Socrates stuck to his beliefs throughout the trial, even with his life on the line. Some would say that his defense didn’t work. Apparently, it did serve its purpose. Socrates was not defending himself, he was defending philosophy and thought. He died for it, and by doing so, he became the first martyr of philosophy.

ings, Socrates concluded that he must be wiser than other men only in that he knew that he knew nothing. Socrates explained that he considered it his duty to question people in order to expose their false wisdom as ignorance. By doing this, the youth of Athens began to admire him and follow in his ways. However, Socrates received much hatred and anger from the people he embarrassed. He believed that the reason he was put on trial was because he embarrassed many people. Socrates compared himself to a gadfly stinging the lazy horse, which is the Athenian state. Without him, Socrates claimed, the state would drift into a deep sleep, but through his influence it can be awakened. Socrates was found guilty by a narrow margin and was asked to come up with a penalty. Socrates suggested that if he were to get what he deserved, he should be honored with a great meal for being of such service to the state. He rejected the sentences of prison or exile, offering instead to pay a fine. When the jury rejected his suggestions and sentenced him to death, Socra

Some topics in this essay:
Athenian Socrates, Apology Socrates, Athens Subsequently, Socrates Socrates, Plato's Apology, youth athens, oracle told wisest, duty question people, duty question, people socrates, question people, skillful speaker, apology socrates, oracle told, told wisest,