Should we pursue something that we are passionate about, even if it is not what others believe in? Should the opinion of those around us drive what we believe in or if we choose to stay true to our beliefs is it moral? This essay will discuss the conflict between Socrates and the people of Athens who were opposed to the teachings of Socrates because they thought the teachings rejected the gods and were corrupting the children of Athens. With the oppositions of the public, Socrates was accused and found guilty; I will explore the counsel that Socrates’ friends gave him to escape and flee and Socrates’ ultimate acceptance of his sentence. Was Socrates right to accept his sentence or should he have followed the counsel of his friends? Because
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Plato, Socrates student and friend, made an account of his defense against the charges that was made against him, this account was titled “Plato’s Apology”, and this was not an apology at all however. Socrates started his defense explain to the court the prophecy of Apollo and his efforts to find the truth to this prophecy and that he came to the conclusion that we was wiser than the others because he was able to see that he did not know everything. To quote from the writings of “Plato’s Apology” Socrates stated, “Men of Athens, This reputation of mine has come of a certain sort of wisdom which I possess. If you ask me what kind of wisdom, I reply, such wisdom as is attainable by man, for to that extent I am inclined to believe that I am wise”. He explained further regarding the prophecy of Apollo that he had no reason to lie no would he. Next he calls out the actions of Meletus, who is one of the accusers of the charges against Socrates, stating that Meletus was an evil doer because he was making a mockery of a very serious moral matter. He followed stating that his accusers will not injure him for they cannot, their ruling of death or exile will hurt them more than himself. He ends his argument by stating that he is accused of not believing in God; however that is not the case he does believe in God and more passionately than those of my accusers and that God is what drives him to find answers to his questions (Jowett
Plato, Socrates student and friend, made an account of his defense against the charges that was made against him, this account was titled “Plato’s Apology”, and this was not an apology at all however. Socrates started his defense explain to the court the prophecy of Apollo and his efforts to find the truth to this prophecy and that he came to the conclusion that we was wiser than the others because he was able to see that he did not know everything. To quote from the writings of “Plato’s Apology” Socrates stated, “Men of Athens, This reputation of mine has come of a certain sort of wisdom which I possess. If you ask me what kind of wisdom, I reply, such wisdom as is attainable by man, for to that extent I am inclined to believe that I am wise”. He explained further regarding the prophecy of Apollo that he had no reason to lie no would he. Next he calls out the actions of Meletus, who is one of the accusers of the charges against Socrates, stating that Meletus was an evil doer because he was making a mockery of a very serious moral matter. He followed stating that his accusers will not injure him for they cannot, their ruling of death or exile will hurt them more than himself. He ends his argument by stating that he is accused of not believing in God; however that is not the case he does believe in God and more passionately than those of my accusers and that God is what drives him to find answers to his questions (Jowett