Today is one of the most important days in my life, for I was chosen to be a member of the jury deciding Socrates’ fate. Meletus and other two people accuse Socrates is an evil-doer (Plato, Apology,p.234). They bring up 2 main accusations to Socrates First, Meletus accuses Socrates has corrupted the youth; Second, Meletus accuses Socrates does not believe in god, he is an atheist. Here is how Socrates defends himself. Socrates starts to give his defense about Meletus’ first accusation. The first accusation is that Socrates was corrupting youth (Plato, Apology, p.234). Socrates responds to this accusation by asking Meletus questions. First Socrates asks Meletus again that did he corrupt the youth. Meletus agrees with that statement. Then Socrates
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Meletus claimed that Socrates ' “did not believe in the god of the state, for Socrates believes in other new divinities of his own” (Plato, Apology, P238). Then Socrates asks Meletus a question “Meletus, you really think that I do not believe in any god (Plato, Apology, p.241)?” Meletus response was: “I swear by Zeus that you believe absolutely in none at all.” Here is a contradiction in Meletus’ accusation and Meletus’ response to Socrates’ question. Meletus cannot say that at the same time Socrates was an atheist and also believed in other divinities or gods. If Socrates doesn’t believe in any gods, then he cannot believe the god that is his own. Therefore I recognize that Meletus accusation has no meaning. Also, Socrates gives us a question: “Did ever any man believe in horsemanship, and not in horses? or in flute-playing, and not in flute-players (Plato, Apology, p.241)?” I think that means what he believes in not on any specific god but on the power of gods (Rubenfeld, CAL 105N, 10/07/15). Socrates also says that: “For this is the command of God, as I would have you know; and I believe that to this day no greater good has ever happened in the state than my service to the God (Plato, Apology, p.244).” Those words show me that he does believe in the spirit of god, he has the faith. Therefore, Meletus’ second accusation is not working. I think Socrates is
Meletus claimed that Socrates ' “did not believe in the god of the state, for Socrates believes in other new divinities of his own” (Plato, Apology, P238). Then Socrates asks Meletus a question “Meletus, you really think that I do not believe in any god (Plato, Apology, p.241)?” Meletus response was: “I swear by Zeus that you believe absolutely in none at all.” Here is a contradiction in Meletus’ accusation and Meletus’ response to Socrates’ question. Meletus cannot say that at the same time Socrates was an atheist and also believed in other divinities or gods. If Socrates doesn’t believe in any gods, then he cannot believe the god that is his own. Therefore I recognize that Meletus accusation has no meaning. Also, Socrates gives us a question: “Did ever any man believe in horsemanship, and not in horses? or in flute-playing, and not in flute-players (Plato, Apology, p.241)?” I think that means what he believes in not on any specific god but on the power of gods (Rubenfeld, CAL 105N, 10/07/15). Socrates also says that: “For this is the command of God, as I would have you know; and I believe that to this day no greater good has ever happened in the state than my service to the God (Plato, Apology, p.244).” Those words show me that he does believe in the spirit of god, he has the faith. Therefore, Meletus’ second accusation is not working. I think Socrates is