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In short, Socrates saw the elimination of ignorance as the first step that would lead people to become virtuous. As a result, he created a technique for testing knowledge by argument and questioning that became known as "the Socratic method."
Basically, through an ironic mockery of words, Socrates mocks everyone present by mocking himself. He was the wisest man, he says, because he was the only one who understood he did not know anything. No one else would admit his ignorance. In terms of corrupting the youth, how could that be? It is absurd to say that only he was the only corruptor. This implied that everyone else supported the youth. Yet, just as there were few horse trainers, so there were few in the position to actually train the youth. Contrary to what Meletus stated, Socrates said that he was one of those trainers. Further, if Socrates voluntarily harmed the youth, then since evil leads to evil, they would harm him, and no rational person voluntarily harms himself. However, if he harmed the youth involuntarily, then he had to be educated, not punished. Likewise, he turned the words around when talking about the gods. He said to Meletus: You say expressly that I believe in daemonic affairs, therefore in daemons; but daemons are a sort of gods, or the offspring of gods. Therefore, you cannot possibly believe that I do not believe in gods..." Unfortunately, two millennia later, there are many places in this world where one does not have the freedom to say what he or she believes. America is one of the most democratic countries in the world. Yet, people do not often take advantage of the ability of free speech. For example, by not being involved and critical about what is right and wrong about this country, especially with the presidential election coming up (regardless of who they support), citizens are failing to follow the full potential and, as a result, contributing to the diminution of democracy. It is everyone's right and duty to speak out for what he or she believes is best for the country. Otherwise, there is the possibility of one day losing the democracy that is at hand. Socrates was stating loud and clear that a strong civic life and growing democracy requires the active involvement of many people across society.
The irony that Plato stated in the Apology was that these
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Plato. The Apology. Retrieved April 15, 2008. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
Basically, through an ironic mockery of words, Socrates mocks everyone present by mocking himself. He was the wisest man, he says, because he was the only one who understood he did not know anything. No one else would admit his ignorance. In terms of corrupting the youth, how could that be? It is absurd to say that only he was the only corruptor. This implied that everyone else supported the youth. Yet, just as there were few horse trainers, so there were few in the position to actually train the youth. Contrary to what Meletus stated, Socrates said that he was one of those trainers. Further, if Socrates voluntarily harmed the youth, then since evil leads to evil, they would harm him, and no rational person voluntarily harms himself. However, if he harmed the youth involuntarily, then he had to be educated, not punished. Likewise, he turned the words around when talking about the gods. He said to Meletus: You say expressly that I believe in daemonic affairs, therefore in daemons; but daemons are a sort of gods, or the offspring of gods. Therefore, you cannot possibly believe that I do not believe in gods..."
The irony that Plato stated in the Apology was that these leaders of Athens who said they believed in free speech actually sentenced and killed a man for free speech. Unfortunately, two millennia later, there are many places in this world where one does not have the freedom to say what he or she believes. America is one of the most democratic countries in the world. Yet, people do not often take advantage of the ability of free speech. For example, by not being involved and critical about what is right and wrong about this country, especially with the presidential election coming up (regardless of who they support), citizens are failing to follow the full potential and, as a result, contributing to the diminution of democracy. It is everyone's right and duty to speak out for what he or she believes is best for the country. Otherwise, there is the possibility of one day losing the democracy that is at hand. Socrates was stating loud and clear that a strong civic life and growing democracy requires the active involvement of many people across society.
Plato. The Apology. Retrieved April 15, 2008. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
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Plato's Apology Discuss the main points of Plato's the Apology The Apology is based upon series of speeches that were made by Socrates in 39 BC. He was standing trial for corrupting the youth of Athens by not believing in the gods of the city. This is because he would often question various ideas in order to have a greater sense of understand and enlightenment. As a result, there were several main