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Is Anyone Wiser Than Socrates

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Introduction Socrates was a renowned philosopher for his method of learning and inquiry known as the Socratic Method . However this inquiry led him to expose Government corruption and be annoying to the powerful people of Athens. In the end though Socrates was primarily put on trial for the atrocities his students committed. Socrates loved Athens, even though his students harmed the state, he was not guilty of his charges nor of Athens ' loss in the Peloponnesian War. The Oracle at Delphi answered no to the question "Is anyone wiser than Socrates?" Socrates says he know nothing in response, but later learns that politicians, poets, and even craftsmen knew nothing. So he goes out and educates the people. Some of these people end up becoming …show more content…

This Oligarchy exiled and murdered thousands of people and took their property. The leaders of this regime were coined "The Thirty Tyrants". It was rumored that Socrates supported these "Thirty Tyrants" and when they ordered Socrates to arrest Leon of Salamis he refused, but didn 't care to warn Leon of impending danger. After democracy was restored in Athens, Socrates was considered a pest and called "gadfly" because of his inquiry, using the Socratic method he was exposing issues with Athenian politicians. He claimed that he was "a sort of gadfly, given to the state by God; and the state is a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life." He does this by showing the public that the politicians had no knowledge of their craft. He was prodding the Athens along a road of new knowledge, but some of the politicians he exposed as airheads were humiliated and wanted revenge. After what the students of Socrates did, they could exact …show more content…

The only accounts of the trial of Socrates are rather partial towards Socrates as they are written by Xenophon and Plato. Not much is known about Meletus other than what is told in Plato 's Apology, he is portrayed as the main accuser even though many believe he was a puppet. Meletus is thought to be a religious fanatic who cares more about Socrates ' impiety charges He is also thought to be a poet who was angered by Socrates ' low opinion of poets. Others believe both could be true. Anytus was charged with treason during the Peloponnesian War however he was part of the oligarchy resistance movement making him popular and a high up politician in Athens. He cared neither for Socrates ' criticism of the government nor of Socrates ' effect on his son. Lycon was the third accuser, he is known to be an orator, a profession Socrates considered to be for claiming power without regard for truth. All of his opponents looked upon Socrates and his views as threats when he was demonstrating constructive criticism by commenting on how their craft could be improved upon. This was mainly the charge of Anytus, not only because of the effect Socrates had on his son, but also fear of Socrates spreading his political outlook on the political

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Janelle Perez Exploratory essay Week 6 Why did Athens wait so long to put Socrates on trial?. Socrates was teaching students for some time before he was put on trial in 399 B.C.E. I think the people of Athens waited to put Socrates on trial because they just lost a war to Sparta and were afraid their democracy was going to be taken away from them. This question interests me because history repeats itself. There have been many democratic countries that were slowly taken away by rising leaders who were against democracy such as when Hitler took control of Germany and made the country a dictatorship.

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In analyzing great Philosophical literature, few works are as famous as Plato's Apology and Allegory of the Cave. Although lesser known to the uninitiated to the world of Philosophy, but certainly no less famous or important, is Voltaire's Good Brahman. At first glance, each of these works appears quite different and only have the commonality of being older Philosophy texts. However, upon closer examination we find that they have more in common, despite their less obvious differences. In the following paragraphs, we will seek to explain each work individually and then compare and contrast both Philosopher's works.

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He “undercut the authority and legitimacy of a particular regime. ”1 Socrates openly denied the gods, which meant he openly denied the legitimacy of the prestigious politicians of Greece.

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Through becoming a teacher of the young men who followed him in Athens, Socrates effectively began to enter the public life. He was able to influence others through sharing his conclusions of justice, self-examination, and piety, and by asking relentless questions. Socrates effectively showed that an individual can live a private and a public life, even if Socrates was not directly involved in the policy-making in Athens. An individual can combine these two aspects of life in a productive way allowing her/him to live a full existence. These individuals can become teachers, politicians, and activists who use their focus on justice and piety in their private lives to advocate and create laws that promote true justice for the rest of the

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