Before proving his innocence, Socrates pointed that he was targeted for the charge of corrupting students’ mind because Gorgias was not charged for his teaching. To provide the defense against atheism, Socrates stated that it is not possible to believe in demigods and be an atheist (p.26). Because demigods have to be either gods or sons of gods, he could not believe in demigods without believing in gods, which proves Meletus was wrong. Socrates also used paralepsis, a rhetorical figure to help him persuade the jurors. He promised that he would not mention his children but he said “my friend, I am a man, and like other men, a creature of flesh and blood, and not of wood or stone, as Homer says; and I have a family, yes, and sons....” (p.30)
