Socrates & Plato's / Apology/

 Do you think these charges are legitimate?  Is this a fair trial?

In Plato’s Euthyphro, Apology, & Crito, it can be argued if the charges against Socrates were legitimate or not. I believe the charges laid against Socrates were not legitimate; The charges are "...corrupt[ing] the young men growing up. (Euthyphro 2)" and "...for instituting religions reforms (Euthyphro 2)." The trial on the other hand, was unfortunately one sided where Socrates knew his ideas would not be favored by the elders of Athens.

During the Euthyphro and Apology, the argument of what is right pious and what is believed to be pious by the gods is constantly being questioned. Socrates isn't a man who would teach a particular view. Socrates is a man who mainly taught through questions. If you have a particular understanding, he wouldn't say you’re wrong. “…. I have gained this reputation, Athenians, simply by reason of a certain wisdom, But by what kind of wisdom? Is it by just that wisdom which is perhaps human wisdom. In that, it may be, I am really wise.” (Apology 25) Even though he say that he can not describe it himself, He also states that if any man [ Athenians] do, he lies and speak against him!  Socrates would question to see if you truly understand. He would make you think critically and then you would question to change your own mind. “…. He asked if thee was anyone who was wiser than I [Socrates]. The priestess answered that there was no one.” ( Apology 25)

Through the attempted teachings to the youth, the argument allowed the religious reform to be laid out. Socrates and Meletus engage in arguments whether or not Socrates believes in god or not. “ But do we not believe that divinities are either gods themselves or the children of the gods? Do you admit that ? [mel]  I do  [Socr] Then you admit that I believe in divinities.”(Apology 33)  Meletus’s main base argument was to prove that Socrates does not believe in any god. That ultimately he [Socrates] himself is a “complete Atheist” (Apology, 32), as again Socrates Twists Meletus words and proves his theory.

The charges and trial against Socrates does not seem to be fair and unbiased. The men of Athens appear to be angered at the teachings of the great philosopher and to want to put an end to the spread of his beliefs He goes on and explains that , “for to fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise without really being wise, for it is to think that we know what we do not know” (Apology, 35). In the end, although he had persuaded some of the elders and youth, the one’s that had constantly “attacked” Socrates’ theories from the start were the one’s feared the most  A.K.A ( Meletus, Anythus and Lycon). In the end “ …. Death is a good. For the state of death is one of two things: either the dead man wholly ceases to be and loses all consciousness or, as we are told, it is a change and migration of the soul to another place, and if death is the absence of all consciousness, and like the sleep of one whose slumbers are unbroken by any dream, it will be a wonderful gain.” ( Apology 47-48)