The Apology

1. Do you think these charges are legitimate? Is it a fair trail?


During the trail Socrates was charged with believing in different gods of the state and corrupting the youth . Even though this trail took place in a far different time period, I still think the trail was unfair. Meletus states that Socrates is atheist and does not believe in divinities. But that is not true. Socrates brings up the point that those who believe in divines in turn believe in divinities and says “ now, if these divinities are gods, then, as I say, you are joking and asking a riddle, as asserting that I do not believe in the gods, and at the same time that I do, since I believe in divinities” (Plato 33). Meletus then agrees with Socrates, contradicting himself. That there shows this charge was illegitimate.
Socrates is then charged with corrupting the youth. This I don’t believe to be true. Socrates does not go up to young men and push his beliefs on them, the young men follow him. Socrates says “.. bad citizens always do evil, and that good citizens do good, to those with whom they come in contact, while I am so extraordinary ignorant as not to know that, if I make any of my companions evil, he will probably injure me in some way? And you allege that I do this voluntary?” (31). He explains that he would never voluntarily corrupt the youth, therefore he does not corrupt the youth at all, or does so involuntarily which for that he cannot be charged for. Socrates does not publicly talk of what divinities he believes in, rather he cross-examines other men by continually asking questions and allowing them to come to their own conclusions. He allows others to think critically. Men Socrates “ cross-examined get angry with [him] instead of with themselves, and say that Socrates is an abomination and corrupts the youth” (28). People become angry with him for making them look unintelligent and say that he tries to teach such things as not believing in the gods.
In today's society this trail to most would seem unfair. In today's day and age people are allowed to practice any religion they wish and believe in any gods they choose. An individual is allowed to speak freely about their beliefs and values. Although this trail took place a long time ago, Socrates charges are illegitimate. Socrates is not an atheist and he did not corrupt the youth. The men that say Socrates is an abomination are the same men who were embarrassed by him. Meletus never argued with Socrates or told him he was wrong, he just simply answered his questions sometimes agreeing with Socrates and contradicting himself.