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beginning of one article on the trial of Socrates, one writer lets the reader in on this dilemma facing him as he writes of the trial. The author intimates that there must have more to the reasoning of the trial and death than is seen. His famous student Plato and a few other writers were merely out to shield him from some unknown act, was the point this writer wished to make. I disagree. They feared his message that would be passed on; they were, in essence trying to rid the world of his kind of thinking.

Douglas Linder in 2002 wonders why such a civilized society would try, convict and put to death this renowned teacher. The author of The Trial of Socrates knows of course if this question is asked, his readers will join him in this detection work. It hooks the reader right away and then he proceeds to put forth his case. it's a masterful piece of writing. It probably does not say much that is new but it is arranged differently and that give a modern touch to an old enigma.

Yet by far, I prefer Plato's "Apology". Assuming to be him, Plato says of Socrates' enemies and accusers: ". . . since I cannot have them up here and cross examine them, therefore I must fight with shadows in my own defense and argue when there is no one to answer".

By carefully reading Plato's writing of the assumed trial, we learn that indeed Socrates had enemies. He made it his business to snoop in on the affairs of whomever he suspected of wrong doing. This then was his crime and they could not, and would not forgive him. They - and this my own speculation - wanted to find a way of discrediting him so that history of him would be tainted. Plato, in his writing countered this and set out to set the record straight.

Plato's philosophy is known as Platonism and was quite famous and was the benchmark for education for many centuries. Around three hundred years later, or less, in the first century when Christianity was on its first legs, Plato influenced many writers. The true Christian Church that deciphered wrote and put together the writings of the Apostles did not allow his teachings.

It was not until around the twelve hundreds that Thomas Aquinas a well renowned Church Father and a reader of Platonism, incorporated some of this into his own writings. This writer who had a tremendous reputation in Christian writings had a way of explaining and giving examples and showing proof of the validity of Platonism. No doubt he saw a connection between the willful wrongdoing of accusing and murdering this man who had the audacity to tell people to their face they were living wrong lives to Jesus and his accusers and to his judges and jurors.

The shadow of Socrates speaking through Plato tells us of his character and his reasoning behind his conviction and death: "I am called wise, for my hearers always imagine that I possess the wisdom which I always find wanting in others; but the truth is, O men of Athens, that God is only wise. . . ". He was forced to drink hemlock as his final demise.

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