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THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF SOCRATES

Beginning around 585B.C, in the Greek cities circling Ionia (Asia Minor), Western Philosophy is said to have been birthed. Socrates was the key figure in transforming this philosophy into a unified and continuous project. Later, he became renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics. Today, this Socratic influence remains strong in providing a foundation in the field of Western Philosophy.

Socrates lived in a time of transition and decline in the post years of the Peloponnesian War. Democracy was in its infant stages and Socrates appears to have criticized democracy as an efficient way of government. Athenian politics and society clashed with Socrates pursuit of virtue and his strict adherence to the truth. Despite his death-defying loyalty, his position as a social and moral critic did much to discredit his viability with the government. As a result, Athens sought to have him tried and executed.

According to Socrates, his wisdom was limited to an awareness of his own ignorance. He claimed to have knowledge in the "art of love." His art, however, was attributed to that of a heretic. On a specific day in 300 B.C., Socrates stood in front of a jury accused of, "refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state and of "corrupting youth." While on trial, Socrates purposefully gave a defiant defense to the jury. He was convinced that rather than fight his fate, that he would be better off dead and he believed that the "right" time had come for him to die. On several occasions, Socrates would have been able to escape his loveless, tortured, cell, but he chose to stay. The reasons he gave for choosing to stay were as follows:

He believed such a flight would indicate fear of death.

His teaching would be vastly discredited if he chose to flea Athens and as in Athens he would continue to question everything that was presented to him, thus making enemies with the next place that he would choose to live.

His desire to live the "truth" bound him to the cities laws. Under these laws he implicitly subjected himself to jury led trials, should he be accused of any crimes. He believed he was obligated by a "social contract" the likes of which he outlines in his teaching.

Crito, Socrates, friend and confidant, tried everything he could think of to get him to consider an escape from prison. Should Socrates have chosen to, he probably would have survived. Socrates was convicted of his crimes when members of the audience were instructed to place

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