Essay on Socrates
The First Advocate for Free Speech – Socrates The precise facts about how and why the great Greek philosopher Socrates was sentenced and executed remains one of the biggest puzzles in history, even to this day. Socrates lived and philosophized in Athens, which is said to be the ancient model for a democracy. Yet, it seems like the Athenians sentenced to death a respected member of their society for speaking his mind and standing by his principles. Now how democratic is that? What makes the situation more riddling is that the only two journals for the events surrounding the death of Socrates are written by Plato and Xenophon, who are his followers. Some historians argue the picture they presented in their works is intended to imply Socrates was unfairly brought to trial and executed. However, by examining closely what arguments Socrates presented to defend himself in his Apology and the reasons he had for not escaping prison presented in Crito, it becomes more likely than not that Socrates intended to get just the judgment he got. He was aware that the Athenians wanted to be free from his philosophizing, but was not willing to go on exile and stop being who he is, and doing what defines him. That is why Socrates chose death. Throughout his trial Socrates passes through various points he has to make once again in front of the Athenian society, but the whole time what he aims is to defend his belief in the power of philosophizing and his idea of what is democratic and right. In no way would he admit his teaching was wrong. But he was aware that philosophizing is what put him on trail and by continuing to do it, he would most probably not convince the jury of his innocence. After he is pronounced guilty and a sentence is being discussed, he even starts being somewhat arrogant to the jurors, maybe to find out how they will react as the elite of a democratic society. At this point Socrates is deliberately saying things that will get him sentenced to death,
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