Plato: The Defense Of Socrates, Euthyphro, And Crito

The Defense of Socrates Essay
In the book Plato: The Defense of Socrates, Euthyphro, and Crito, Socrates is accused and taken to court on the charges of corrupting the youth and impiety. His accusers most notably Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon have requested that Socrates be trailed and punished under the law for his crimes. During Socrates’ trail he is given a chance to explain himself against the accusations which he is being convicted under. If found guilty on the charges of corrupting the youth, impiety, and criticism of orators  re word Socrates is to be prisoned and commit suicide on his own will by drinking hemlock, poisoning himself in the process resulting in death. At his trail, Socrates gives reasoning for his actions and a prediction …show more content…
During his trail Socrates speaking to the citizens of Athens says “that even if the people of Athens found him not guilty and let him go he will continue his study of philosophy and teachings of wisdom” (pg.43). Socrates’ belief in god and his understanding of what his purpose is unmoved even by the penalty of death and it does not matter if he is threaten with imprisonment and death as a way to stop him from what he believes is his purpose. Those who he feels have plotted against him into depicting him as something he is not Socrates states, “You may be assured that if you put to death the sort of man I just said I was, you will not harm me more than you harm yourself. Meletus or Anytus would not harm me at all; nor, in fact, could they do so, since I believe it is out of the question for a better man to be harmed by his inferior” (pg. 44) Socrates warns the people of Athens that the intimidation and framing of him by his accusers, he will not acknowledge due to his firm understanding of himself not committing any crimes by the way he chooses to live. In Socrates’ view the mortality and “goodness” that an individual has overweighs the evils that challenge and attempt to hurt them as it is something he believes strongly in and even in death a good soul can’t be …show more content…
Though he gives many reasons to support his claim, the ones he give of educating the youth of truth through teachings, his views on death and him not being intimidated by its suggestion for him, and his continuous encouragements of self-improvement through morality, virtue, and goodness are strong points made by him supporting his warning to the citizens of Athens. Socrates reminds the citizens in attendance at his trail that he never benefitted by the things he has done for them and their young or asked to be telling them that there is no one else like him who