Trial Of Socrates
The trial and execution of Socrates took place in 399 BC. Socrates was tried on two charges: corrupting the youth and impiety (in Greek, asebeia). More specifically, Socrates' accusers cited two "impious" acts: "failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges" and "introducing new deities". A majority of the dikasts (Athenian citizens chosen by lot to serve as jurors) voted to convict him. Consistent with common practice, the dikasts determined Socrates’ punishment with another vote. Socrates was ultimately sentenced to death by drinking a hemlock-based liquid. Primary sources for accounts of the trial are given by two of Socrates' friends, Plato and Xenophon; well known later interpretations include those of the journalist I. F. Stone and the classics scholar Robin Waterfield.
Read more about Trial Of Socrates: Background, Historical Descriptions, Proceedings, Ancient Interpretations, Modern Interpretations
Other articles related to "trial of socrates, of socrates, socrates, trial":
... The death of Socrates, as presented by Plato, has inspired writers, artists and philosophers in the modern world, in a variety of ways ... Stone, an American journalist, wrote a book entitled "Trial of Socrates" after his retirement, arguing that Socrates wanted to be sentenced to death in order to justify his ... Waterfield, too, argues that Socrates’ death was a voluntary action motivated by a greater purpose ...
... During the first three hours of trial, Meletus and the other two accusers each stood in the law court in the center of Athens to deliver previously crafted speeches to the jury against Socrates ... However, within the Apology we do have Plato's record of Socrates' cross-examination of Meletus, per the Athenian legal convention allowing the defendant to cross-examined the accuser ... Using his characteristic Socratic method, Socrates makes Meletus to seem an inarticulate fool ...
... The trial of Socrates is the central, unifying event of the great Platonic dialogues ... In the Apology, Socrates tries to dismiss rumors that he is a sophist and defends himself against charges of disbelief in the gods and corruption of the young ... Socrates insists that long-standing slander will be the real cause of his demise, and says the legal charges are essentially false ...
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