He also refuted Meletus’ claims that he didn’t believe in any god by questioning Meletus and leading him into a self-contradiction. It is clear to us that Meletus’ accusations are false. I believe that the sole reason Socrates was found guilty during the trial was because people hated him (Socrates even mentions this in the beginning of his speech), not because he did anything wrong. Socrates actually wanted to help the people of Athens by encouraging a new way
My first argument is Socrates prioritizes god law over men law. On the beginning of his defenses, Socrates had told by the Oracle of Delphi that he is the wisest of all men. However, Socrates does not believe Oracle’s words and then he goes out to find someone wiser. He had investigated the politicians, poets and craftsmen in order to understand the meaning of the Delphi’s claims (Apology 22a – d). However, he found out that none of them were wiser.
Meletus accused Socrates of "refusing to acknowledge the gods recognized by the State and of introducing new and different gods. " How can you accuse someone of being an atheist but at the same time saying they believe in other gods? Meletus also accused Socrates of corrupting the youth. Meletus claims that the information Socrates was teaching was harming the youth, and that the law makes the youth better. Socrates asks who is responsible for knowing the law, Meletus suggests that jurymen, assembly members and councillors are responsible for knowing the law.
The first concept that I noticed shared by Russell and Socrates was the concept that one had to remove themselves before serious philosophical contemplation could take place. In Russell 's case, he refers to the "Self" and the "Not-Self". With Socrates, as seen in the Apology, confronting his accuser about the corruption of youth, his accuser is silent because he had not given the matter any thought. Socrates awareness of his own ignorance frees him from what Russell would refer to as "Self". I mention this because it serves as a common theme even as both philosophers differ in their messages.
The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a test designed to detect the strength of a person’s automatic association between mental representations of concepts in memory. During the first step of IAT I saw that I was very focused on the words, but I got confused as the instructions changed each time. The first couple steps of The Implicit Association test moved very slowly and they gave me time to think back on when I should tap the letter “E” or tap the letter “I.” The beginning of this exam was confusing because first we had to memorize faces make sure we decipher between, which picture was a European American or African American. This step was confusing because The Implicit Association Test displayed the pictures in black and white for both the European American photos and the African American photos. I noticed that as I went on to the next step and I had to pick up the pace and move faster.
Not believing in Gods Socrates did not recognize the gods, which were generally accepted in Athens. As it is known, in the community of that time some traditions and regulations were formed, and if person did not compliance them, this person acts against society. The charge was formulated as follows: "Socrates breaks the law not recognizing the gods, which recognizes the city, but recognizing the believing in some new genius" (literally "new demon"). So if in Athens laws was also traditions, and tradition was to believe in generally accepted gods, not believing in gods Socrates was breaking the law.
At the same time, he recognizes that no one would intentionally make the people worse because he is obliged to live among them. From this it follows either that Socrates is not making the people worse or he is doing so unintentionally. Obviously, Meletus is not able to understand the logical consequences implied in the statements made by him. Further Meletus refers to Socrates as an atheist because he teaches that the sun is stone and the moon is earth. Socrates then reminds Meletus that it was Anaxagoras the Clazomenian who stated that the sun and moon were only material substances.
This charge states that Socrates does not believe in the gods of Athens, but instead practices “ new spiritual things” . Meletus has accused him of being an atheist. “ I can not be sure whether you mean that I teach the belief that there are some gods- and therefore I myself believe that there are gods and am not altogether an atheist, nor am I guilty of that- not, however, the gods in whom the city believes, but others,and that is the charge against me, that they are others.” (Apology31) Socrates then questions him asking how can he be a atheist but practice new spiritual things at the same time, you can not practice both as they are incompatible.
In this second quote, Socrates is saying that he possesses a certain wisdom given to him by the god to spread his philosophy and belief in the city of Athens. Here is a third piece of evidence to support my point from “ The Apology”. “Afterwards I went to talk to one person after another, sensing how odious I had become to them. I was sad and fearful; but I felt it was necessary to make the god’s work my highest priority.” (Lines 56-58)
Furthermore, Socrates uses Miletus statement in gods since both believe in daimonia consequently; the allegation of impiety holds no water (27a-d). Socrates arguments in his defense are effective due to the fact that he exposed the real corrupters of Athens youth. Socrates continues with the questioning of Meletus, he makes a point about corruption. He says that “if one, associates with corrupt people; then this corruption will eventually spread and you yourself will become corrupt”. So if you are corrupting the very people that you associate with, then eventually you will also become corrupt.
Rough Essay draft In 1984, George Orwell paints a terrifying picture in which all the continents of America, Oceania and the British Isles are run by a single government. It has total control over every single aspect of its society. Although the novel was a depiction of what Orwell thought the world would be like in the year 1984, we can see Orwell 's prophecy 's come to life in modern day North Korea. There are three main aspects of society that are strikingly similar between the two. One example of a similar trait that can be observed in both society 's is the form of government that both civilizations are ran under.
Socrates started his life as an average Athen citizen. His parents worked, making an honest living. But as Socrates grew up, he began to realize that his mind questioned things and wondered how come no one else questioned the same things or at least think about the answers to the questions that were not answered. So, as his mind kept wandering, he began to acknowledge the questions that were not answered and sought for those answers. He ended up believing and teaching things to other people, whether it went against the way the Athen government or not, he still continued his work.
“May it be for the best. If it so please the gods, so be it.” (Cooper 44). Socrates states that if it pleases the gods then thats whats supposed to happen. Socrates has his morals that he grew up with and so does everyone else.
Socrates’s official new charge “asserts that Socrates does injustice by corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel” (24b, p. 73). By looking deeper into the dialogue of The Apology and Euthyphro, one can see how passionately Socrates strives to express to the Athenian people his innocence in teaching the youth and worshiping of the gods. Socrates maintains his innocence in teaching the youth for three reasons. Primarily, there is no proof or evidence from past examples in which Socrates has taught the youth because no one has come out and said so. Socrates brings up a valid point that his so-called ‘teachings’ haven’t changed over time and therefore if he is accused
Meletus tells Socrates that he does not believe in gods at all. Socrates shows that a person cannot believe in divine activities but not in divinities. He cannot be contradicted; he cannot believe in the gods and not believe in the gods. Socrates uses reasoning and logic throughout his trial.
