• Home Page
  • How Could Socrates Be Impious While Believing In Spirits

How Could Socrates Be Impious While Believing In Spirits

Improved Essays
Show More
In Plato’s “Apology of Socrates,” Socrates is being put to trail for a number of contrived, almost fictional reasons. He’s being accused of strange charges, including impiety and “corrupting the youth”.
Regarding his alleged impiety, where he is defending himself against Meletus, he states “is there anyone who believes in what is associated with human beings, but who doesn’t believe in human beings?” This defense proves right on Socrates’ part due to his own of beliefs of how the sun and moon are gods. This makes Meletus look foolish, Socrates even stating “Then if I believe in spirits…and if spirits are gods…you’re making a riddle of and fooling around about.” How could Socrates be impious while believing in spirits?
The contradiction within

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Role Of Socrates In Euthyphro, Apology, And Crito
    • 1322 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Role Of Socrates In Euthyphro, Apology, And Crito

    Socrates is a philosopher known for his teachings in Athens. He taught his entire life, where no one would bother him. Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth and inventing new gods at the age of seventy. For varies reasons which will be discussed later, the city of Athens chose to wait till this age to prosecute and execute him. Socrates chose to accept his fate instead of escaping to avoid execution.…

    • 1322 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Meletus's Argument In Socrates Apology
    • 1311 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Meletus's Argument In Socrates Apology

    Socrates in Apology In the Apology, Socrates presents an argument for his belief in the Greek gods to invalidate Meletus’ assertion that Socrates is an atheist, which therefore means his teachings corrupt the youth (26b). Socrates’ argument is valid through philosophical logic yet as we will find, his argument is not sound. There are also revisions to Meletus’ claims which will be presented as it will display a stronger argument in favor of Socrates’ atheism.…

    • 1311 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Socrates Trial In The Apology By Plato
    • 104 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Socrates Trial In The Apology By Plato

    ‘The Apology’ by Plato was about Socrates’ trial. Socrates at the age of seventy he had been convicted for breaking the law against ‘impiety’. This was for offending the Olympian gods (Zeus, Apollo and the rest of them) recognized in the city and occasions (17). Socrates was allowed to defend himself but haters would not listen to his ideas. Socrates believed in speaking the truth, which was his true character and was revealed.…

    • 104 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates Impiety And Punishment
    • 1533 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Socrates Impiety And Punishment

    He continually refers to the wisdom that he possesses as “the god’s gift” (Grube 30d) and exhibits his trust in the power of the gods as he tells the jury, “...a good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death, and that his affairs are not neglected by the gods” (Grube 41c-d). It is hard to believe that the jury could find him guilty of atheism when he appears to have been blessed by the gods with this capacity for human wisdom. Socrates is nothing if not a virtuous man, as evidenced in his statement: “I would much rather die after this kind of defense than live after making the other kind” (Grube 38e). It is evident that it is against his morals to be dishonest, and he would rather tell the truth even if that entails dying, than deliver an elegant albeit dishonest speech that will ensure his acquittal. I have no doubts that Socrates had faith in the gods just as everyone else in Ancient Greece did, I merely speculate the degree to which his excellence extends.…

    • 1533 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Plato Vs Aristophanes Analysis
    • 2212 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Plato Vs Aristophanes Analysis

    Within Athens during this time period a generational rift had already begun wherein the older generation perceived the newer generations’ ideas as radical and disrespectful. Since sophists had been blamed for the change in the Athenian youth, and Socrates was associated as a Sophist it only made sense that people would blame Socrates for the change in the youth’s ideas. Aristophanes’ “Clouds” was only one of the factors that led Socrates to be brought to trial. In fact there were so many “forces” against Socrates that even he was surprised at how close the guilty verdict was, “I am much more surprised at the number of votes cast on each side, for I did not think the decision would be by so few votes but by a great many. As it is, a switch of only thirty votes would have acquitted me,” (Plato 36a 1 – 4).…

    • 2212 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Trial Of Socrates In The Apology By Plato
    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Trial Of Socrates In The Apology By Plato

    Set during the socratic age of philosophy, The Apology by Plato chronicles the trial of Socrates on the charges of corruption of youth and not believing in the Gods. Plato, a young follower and apprentice of Socrates, documents the trial in its’ entirety from beginning to the unfortunate end in which Socrates is sentenced to death. The Apology is the trial of Socrates on a very basic and literal level but upon further inspection, one comes to realize that not only the philosopher is on trial but philosophy itself. Throughout the piece, Socrates attempts to convince the jury of philosophy’s worth and also criticize the condition of man. Furthermore, the recounting of the trial is also a protest of the hypocrisy within the Greek society that…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates And Plato And Bertrand Russell's The Value Of Philosophy
    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Socrates And Plato And Bertrand Russell's The Value Of Philosophy

    Socrates does not profess his beliefs in God, but believes there is a god(s). Socrates felt god’s had contradicting opinions and spent much of their day quarreling over their differences. Each god carried their own belief and no god was correct because there could never be a unified agreement between them. Therefore, Socrates’ believed in god’s but believed more in knowledge and asking the questions: How, Why, How do you know? However, this can seem a bit contradictive due to his references of the Greek gods when asking questions of his peers in “The Trial and Death of Socrates”.…

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Trial And Death Of Socrates Analysis
    • 2276 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Trial And Death Of Socrates Analysis

    Socrates begins his defense by remarking what persuasive speakers his accusers are in contrast to himself. He indicates that he does not expect to get a fair hearing because of the wide-spread rumors about him and that these rumors associate him with the natural philosophers. The problem with that association is that the natural philosophers were widely suspected of atheism because some of them openly advocated atheism. “Well, then, I will make my defence, and I will endeavor in the time which is allowed to do away with this evil opinion of me which you have held for such a long time; and I hope that I may succeed, if this be know that to accomplish this is not easy—I quite see the nature of the task. Let the event be as God wills: in obedience to the law I make my defence.”…

    • 2276 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates: Was Socrates Guilty As Charged?
    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Socrates: Was Socrates Guilty As Charged?

    Was Socrates guilty as charged?" Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher, is linked with Western systems of logic and philosophy. At an early age, he served in the hoplite-ancient Greek infantry, and later devoted his life to philosophy. His rather unique perspective and wisdom in philosophy attracted friends and enemies at the same time. Socrates metaphorically was the gadfly that stung the horse- Athenian state.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Plato's Crimes Against Socrates As Recorded In The Apology
    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Plato's Crimes Against Socrates As Recorded In The Apology

    However, I believe he can be innocent. Socrates may have different beliefs than the people in Athens, but he still believes in higher powers. He believes there is a god capable of power but the Athenians suppose otherwise. Socrates was being intentional when it came to being honest and trustworthy. He wanted to guard his ground and defend anything that does not speak of his name.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Examples Of Impiety In The Apology Of Socrates
    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Examples Of Impiety In The Apology Of Socrates

    Once again Socrates’ self-confidence in his education was part of his downfall as he questions Melitus about the gods and how according to him Socrates doesn’t believe in the gods at all. Melitus agrees to that statement and Socrates goes on to say that he introduces his students to other gods, not just the ones that Athenians hold dear and that he isn’t a complete atheist because he does believe in some gods. Although earlier in his speech he mentioned going to the Delphic Oracle and used that example to try and sway the Athenians it seems to backfire because of this little mention of other gods. For centuries the Greek population has been very religious and held things like the Delphic Oracle with high regard, and by mentioning that he brings in other sources of religion and gods in his teaching this can and will be seen as a source of impiety further proving their point that he doesn’t teach traditional religion to his students and is in fact guilty of impiety in Athens, but this can’t be seen as true impiety because he still acknowledges the gods he just doesn’t worship on Greek…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Contradiction Of Socrates In The Apology And The Crito
    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Contradiction Of Socrates In The Apology And The Crito

    The Contradiction of Socrates Plato illustrates Socrates in two different aspects in The Apology and in The Crito, which makes the reader ponder which interpretation of Socrates is substantial and which is fictions. Precisely, Plato portrayed Socrates with many inconsistencies in The Apology the emphasis was on obeying the Gods in contrast in The Crito the emphasis was on obeying the laws of Athens. In Plato’s Apology initiates with Socrates’ defense to the Athenian court demonstrating his innocence of the charges brought against him. Socrates was accused of breaking various laws under the Athenian court, the most significant laws were corrupting the youth and believing and worshiping in different Gods that the rest of the citizens in…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates Is Guilty Essay
    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Socrates Is Guilty Essay

    Socrates’ defense against the charge is that he does not believe in God’s is fairly adequate. Yes, Socrates does admit to not believing in the God’s of Athens, but does proclaim that he lives his life by the words of some sort of higher being, or spirits. As he mentions, “I live in great poverty because of my service to Gods” (Plato). I agree with his argument when he says that claiming he is an atheist is completely false, considering he does believe in higher power spiritual beings. Believing in a higher power proves he is not an atheist.…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates Soul Analysis
    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Socrates Soul Analysis

    However, Socrates is still unsure; he still believes that the soul could be one entity rather than split into three. So to prove it he states that each part of the soul…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Arguments Against Socrates
    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Arguments Against Socrates

    Socrates was teaching the youth not to believe in the gods that the city was believing in but he told them to believe other god not the one that they grew up believing in. Meletus is accussing socrate of corrupting the youth. Socrates says that hardly anything his his accussers have said is true and that the facts will prove them wrong.…

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings