Socrates Sentenced to Death

Socrates was charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens.

He explained that he had no experience with the law courts and that he would instead speak in the manner to which he was accustomed: with honesty and directness. He explained that his behavior stemed from a prophecy by the oracle at Delphi which claimed that he was the wisest of all men. Recognizing his ignorance in most worldly affairs, Socrates concluded that he must be wiser than other men only in that he knows that he knows nothing. In order to spread this peculiar wisdom, Socrates explained that he considered it his duty to question supposed "wise" men and to expose their false wisdom as ignorance.

These activities earned him much admiration amongst the youth of Athens, but much hatred and anger from the people he embarrassed.

Socrates likened himself to a gadfly stinging the lazy horse: the Athenian state. Without him, Socrates claimed, the state is liable to drift into a deep sleep, but through his influence--irritating as it may be to some--it can be wakened into productive and virtuous action.

Socrates was found guilty by a narrow margin and was asked to propose a penalty.

Socrates surpringly suggested that if he were to get what he deserves, he should be honored with a great meal for being of such service to the state. He went on to reject prison and exile, offering to pay a fine. The jury rejected this suggestion, and Socrates was sentenced to death.

Socrates does not appear distressed however. He accepted the verdict with the observation that no one but the gods know what happens after death and so it would be foolish to fear what one does not know. He also warned the jurymen who voted against him that in silencing their critic rather than listening to him, they had harmed themselves much more than they had harmed him.

Socrates asked however a favor of the people after his sentencing:

"When my sons are grown up, I would ask you, O my friends, to punish them; and I would have you trouble them, as I have troubled you, if they seem to care about riches, or anything, more than about virtue; or if they pretend to be something when they are really nothing, - then reprove them, as I have reproved you, for not caring about that for which they ought to care, and thinking that they are something when they are really nothing. And if you do this, I and my sons will have received justice at your hands.

The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways - I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows."

Socrates will be put to death tomorrow.

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