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. Over the course of time, reading the Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito have given us some background on the matter. This paper examines why Athens chose to wait so long to put Socrates on trial. There were many factors, such as, personal, political, cultural, and global, that influenced his trial in 399 BCE. Socrates was well known
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He was known as being the questioner and a wise man. He was filled with wisdom and always questioned everything. Could this be a reason why he was put to death? When reading the Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, you get to hear his side of the story from Plato’s eyes. Socrates was one of the best philosophers of all time. He was married with two children and yet this was not a personal reason for him to fight to stay alive. He had a family and a duty to be a father, but he decided not to do that job. Crito, Socrates old friend, makes a point about this. He makes this known in the “Crito” that Socrates abandoned his children and as a father he is supposed to watch his children grow up and be a father to them. Socrates has chosen to leave them and not teach them what he has taught others. He also said that he owed it to the city of Athens not to escape because if it wasn’t for them his parents would have not been together and created him. He respected his parents and the same way he respected them he respected the state the same way and would honor his punishment. He would not revolt and go against their wishes just like he wouldn’t do it to his parents if he was punished by them for something he did while growing up. He carried this principal throughout his entire life until the very end. He had Crito, who was loyal to him, but would not listen to the advice that Crito gave him about escaping his death penalty. As you can see, Socrates has many reasons to live, but he chose to obey the state. (Waterfield,
He was known as being the questioner and a wise man. He was filled with wisdom and always questioned everything. Could this be a reason why he was put to death? When reading the Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, you get to hear his side of the story from Plato’s eyes. Socrates was one of the best philosophers of all time. He was married with two children and yet this was not a personal reason for him to fight to stay alive. He had a family and a duty to be a father, but he decided not to do that job. Crito, Socrates old friend, makes a point about this. He makes this known in the “Crito” that Socrates abandoned his children and as a father he is supposed to watch his children grow up and be a father to them. Socrates has chosen to leave them and not teach them what he has taught others. He also said that he owed it to the city of Athens not to escape because if it wasn’t for them his parents would have not been together and created him. He respected his parents and the same way he respected them he respected the state the same way and would honor his punishment. He would not revolt and go against their wishes just like he wouldn’t do it to his parents if he was punished by them for something he did while growing up. He carried this principal throughout his entire life until the very end. He had Crito, who was loyal to him, but would not listen to the advice that Crito gave him about escaping his death penalty. As you can see, Socrates has many reasons to live, but he chose to obey the state. (Waterfield,