Why Is Socrates Corrupt A Whole Generation?

Socrates was considered a key person during Ancient Greek times. He was a philosopher from Athens who was respected as a brilliant thinker and teacher with a great thirst for knowledge. Many of Socrates thoughts were the very foundation for western philosophy. Although Socrates was not an idol to his peers during his time, people look back on his contribution to Athens and find it quite legendary. Throughout his philosopher days socrates was not liked too well because he would cause ruckus at the agora. Socrates would always plant new thoughts into the people at the agora minds, making them rethink some things they thought were once simple. Socrates mind puzzling thoughts were constantly frowned upon by the adults of Athens because they were …show more content…
Socrates then proceeds to ask Meletus question such as, “But surely, Meletus, the members of the assembly do not corrupt the young? Or do all of them too exert an improving influence? Yes they do. Then it would seem that the whole population of Athens has refined effect upon the young, except myself, and i alone demoralize them. Is that your meaning? Most emphatically, yes.” (Plato 11). Meletus tries to blame the corruption of the next generation on socrates, but how could one person corrupt a whole generation? Meletus argues that Socrates was the only person poisoning young minds, insinuating that everyone else helps the next generation which is entirely incorrect because there are many people in the world that influence children negatively. Socrates once again serves the jury another solid argument that can't be used against help. At this point Socrates was in an ideal space in order to win his …show more content…
Socrates decides to use argumentum misericordiam, meaning he used pithiness to appeal to the jury. Even though this method is thought to be a weak argument Socrates has a play on words to make a weak argument strong. During the court case socrates states, “Yes, and sons too, gentleman, three of them, one almost grown up and the other two only children--but all the same I am not going to produce them here and beseech you to acquit me” (Plato 20) begging the jury not to kill him on behalf of his children. If Socrates really wanted to live he would have ended his case strong, with factual arguments. Being that Socrates left his trail on a weak pitiful level shows lack of emphasis on wanting to live, he was old and possibly just ready to