The Guilty: The Trial Of Socrates

Socrates is being tried for three key reasons. Corruption of the youth, questioning the will of the gods, and undermining democracy. Socrates was a very well-known teacher among his Athenian students but he did not act properly when he was around them. He was also known for his religious beliefs and disrespect to the gods. Socrates would sometimes even question the social order of the government. Socrates is guilty of these things and he should be tried for his wrongdoings. These different actions would change the future of Socrates forever. This is the Trial of Socrates. Socrates’ first offense is the corruption of the youth in Athenian culture. Socrates is guilty on this offense because of the way he treated and “taught” the young men. He told them to dress as Spartans and go against Athens at a time of war. His students, “... acted as if they were drunk…” (Nardo 9) He is explaining the effects that Socrates has had on his students and that they will do most anything he does. When Socrates does these things the …show more content…
Socrates was not a religious person. He did not worship or believe in the gods. Socrates was not loyal to the Polis. As one does say, “the thought of Socrates not worshipping the gods is thought-provoking” (Nardo 12) He is saying that it is a very large part of life to be close to and have a good relationship with the gods, but to not even be loyal to the polis shocks his thought on Socrates in general. The worst part about Socrates faith was that he had been dissed and not spoken of because of it. During the Peloponnesian War, Socrates, “...committed one of the highest criminal offenses, by not worshipping the gods of the state” (Nardo 19) Socrates had made the offense even worse after the Peloponnesian War. No one wanted to have him there and his thoughts and actions were not what they wanted. So, Alcibiades emerged after the War and rebuilt Athens to its former