Introduction
The
sociological set-up of the society is governed by ethical rules. These ethical
rules ensure co-existences of the members of the society. It is a philosophical
belief that there is a super natural being called God who stays in heaven and
watches upon the people on earth. The virtues of this super natural being
require that all the members of the society respect one another. Because of the
surveillance of God, men are costumed to relate well with one another. The
socio-economic performance of the society is extremely influenced by the
relationship of the people in the society. For a period, administrative heads
that ensure conduction of activities and relationship between individuals head
the societies. The administrative personnel are charged with the responsibility
of correcting the wrong doings and ensuring that peace prevails in the society.
In the societies of Athens was the man called Socrates who taught the society
by correcting their evil doings. Due to his boldness in correcting the wrong
doers of the society, he was sentenced death by poisoning.
The
Athenians knew Socrates as the bold and wise man who challenged the wrong and
unethical practices of the societies. The disciples of Socrates attest that he
feared nobody in his teachings and he could reprimand even the powerful
politicians. Because of his quest for societal virtues, he was convicted of
causing societal imbalance (Cahn 21). In his quest for wisdom and establishment
of the wisest person amongst the Athenians, he challenged politicians,
religious leaders, poets and artisans. During the quest for wisdom, Socrates
made enemies with the powerful members of the society. In addition, he gained
national recognition for restoring order into the society. Because of his wise
words and sayings, Socrates had devoted followers who included the wealthy
youths. In his conviction charges, Socrates was charged corrupting the minds of
the youths by influencing in them wrong knowledge that included beating up
their parents. It has been established that Socrates did not invite any
followers, but the disciples who followed him did so at will and they later
began to question wrong doers exactly as Socrates had done (Plato 42).
Socrates
was brought in a liberal and democratic set-up. This childhood sociological
environment made to him to develop beliefs and values that were against the
Athenian teachings. His belief for these values resulted in his hatred for other
Athenian governing system and democratic rights. Socrates believed that the
citizens rights were being violated by the people in authority and he sort to
correct this by mobilizing the population and enlightening them of their
virtues. Socrates believed the citizens of Athens were not rightly governed by
letting them to their free will. He believed that the people needed some leader
to head and direct them like shepherd
(Plato 45). In his teachings, he attacked the management system and
authorities in a manner that made the listeners angry. His quest for good
virtues and ethical standards led to his conviction because he corrupted the
minds of his listeners by inciting them.
Conviction of Socrates
In
my humble opinion, I think Socrates was not justly convicted because he
committed no offence to warrant death sentence. Socrates had the quest for
wisdom and this drove to various professionals and honorable political leaders
who thought they knew about everything. He believed that the society would be a
better place if the citizens subjected themselves to personal scrutiny.
According Socrates, personal scrutiny involved analysis of ethical values and
good virtues in the society. Having realized that the ethical values and good
virtues were not present in the society, Socrates set out a mission to correct
the wrong characters in the society. In his speeches, he claims that
supernatural forces in his questions and teachings that did not any fee
propelled him. Socrates was convicted to death by poisoning at the age of 70
years (Cahn 342). The conviction of Socrates was a national event that received
nationwide concern. Therefore, his conviction required the attention of many
jurors. Based on the charges against democracy of the people of Athens,
Socrates was convicted to death. Even, though, majority of political leaders,
religious leaders and professional poets and artisans wanted Socrates to be
convicted for death, it was evident that a significant number of jurors
believed in the truth proclaimed by Socrates in his teachings because the
difference in voting was only 30. Hence, only 30 votes convicted Socrates (Plato 50). Socrates was convicted because of
the following accusations.
Teaching
the aforesaid doctrines to the others
One
of the conviction charges leveled against Socrates was that he taught false
doctrines to the Athenians. The greater part of the population affected by his
teachings was the youths from wealthy families. It is said that this majority
of the population had no work to do at home. They, therefore, joined Socrates
in his quest for wisdom. During this journey of the quest for freedom, Socrates
travelled to different professionals among the Athenians to establish if they
were wiser than he was. In order to ascertain their level of wisdom, he asked
them questions regarding the phenomenon in their lines of duty. He later
neither realized that these people were nor wise because they perceived to know
all things. Socrates realized that wisdom lies in accepting that he could not
perform other duties because he did not have the capabilities (Cahn 421). Upon
failure to answer the questions asked by Socrates, the professionals have to be
furors because of the public realized their pretence.
The
conviction of Socrates as being responsible for corrupting the minds of the
youths was unjust. This conviction was unjust because his teachings were
voluntary and he charged no fee from his followers. During his quest to
ascertain the reality of the Oracle, he was accompanied by jobless youths.
These youths were entertained by his
conduct, and they admired when the professional were proved to be foolish. It
was said he influenced the youths, but the youths realized by themselves their
leaders were foolish. Therefore, they learned to question the actions undertaken
by superiors including their parents (Plato 37). The authorities convicted
Socrates because of the pretence that he corrupted the youths. This conviction
was unjust because the youths themselves realized their potential through the
actions of Socrates. They gained the wisdom to question the actions of their
superiors.
An
evildoer and curios person who inquires things in earth and heaven
Socrates
was acquitted of propagating evil actions that destabilized the sociological
setup of the society. Because of his liberal and democratic background,
Socrates believed justice in the society was not being practiced to ensure
equitability. In this regard, Socrates would inquire into the live of the
society members by subjecting them to a series of questions to establish the
reality of the happenings. Even, though, Socrates inquiry was right based on
the ethical standards, the religious and political leaders felt that he was
interfering with the social balance of the society.
He
was charged with inquiring both things in heaven and earth that did not concern
him. Inquiring of the things in heaven was against the teachings of their gods.
Socrates had no belief in the gods of Athens that the politicians and the
religious leaders proclaimed (Plato 28). Hence, they convicted him because of
disrespecting their gods.
In
his teachings, Socrates claims that his actions were guided by a supernatural
being. He claims this supernatural guided him to question the evil works of
politicians and religious leaders. In reality, Socrates spoke the truth about
the evil action of the politicians and other religious leaders. Therefore, the
actions of Socrates angered the leaders because their pretentious state was at
risk. The leaders could not wait to be identified by the public as pretenders
who working for their personal gains. In this regard, the quest by politicians
and other leaders to continue doing evil actions and pretending to be good
governors led to the conviction of Socrates because they feared that he might
reveal their agenda.
Disrespect
for the gods of the city- impiety charge
Reports
compiled from the cities of Athens reveal that Athenians believed in the sun
and the moon to be gods. Therefore, they worshiped the sun and moon. Meletus,
one of the accusers of Socrates notes that Socrates did not worship the gods of
the city (Cahn 241). Instead, he acknowledges that Socrates worshiped other
god. Socrates was then accused of propagating other divinities within the
city-causing disharmony among the Athenians.
In
his defense, Socrates claims that the sun and the moon are just stones that
should not be adored and worshiped by the cities of Athens. Instead, Socrates
believed in the existence of supernatural being from whom he took directions
and guidance. His accusers note that he has no respect for the city gods and
does not adhere to the teachings of teachings of the city gods. Socrates
believed in liberalism and democracy where the citizens had the choice of
performing the actions that they truly believe in. Based on this accusation, his
conviction is unjustified because he believe in his god for direction. The
accusation by Meletus to acquit him of disrespecting city gods is unjustified
because all the Athenians had the democracy to exercise worship. In addition,
his gods directed him through supernatural powers to correct the evils of the
other gods.
Conclusion
The
realization of ethical, sociological standards and good virtues is subject to
liberal and democratic rights enhancement. Socrates advocated for
liberalization and democracy in his teachings by helping the citizens to
realize their potential capabilities. During his public and private speeches,
Socrates encouraged the citizens to practice their democratic rights by rising
against pretending leaders. In his quest for wisdom, Socrates realizes that the
majority of the leaders and professionals are foolish because they pretend to
have knowledge about the things they do not understand. Upon realizing that he
is wiser than the leaders, the leaders gang up to accuse him of destabilizing
democracy by inciting the citizens. The conviction of Socrates is unjustified
because the supernatural powers guide him to restore truth and democracy.
Majority of the Athenian politicians and religious leaders is pretenders who
fear revelation by Socrates. Hence, they convict him to conceal the truth.
Works
Cited
Cahn, Steven M. Classics of Western philosophy.
Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2002.print
Plato, John Madison
Cooper. The Trial and Death of Socrates.
Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing,
2000.print
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