Trial of Socrates Analysis
Context of the Trial of Socrates
Focusing on the in the trial of Socrates, his actions were not against any religious values but he was prosecuted for being impious. He was charged because he did not recognize and respect the gods which were recognized by the State, he introduced new divinities and corrupted the youths. In the ancient Greek, citizens demonstrated third holiness by presenting rituals and ceremonies to their ancestral. On the other hand, in the trial of Socrates, he did not value the gods and he lived in a society where gods were viewed as power-hungry creatures (McCannon, 2010). Writers who offer English assignment help at Edudorm essay writing service notes that despite the fact that human beings used to honor the gods with sacrifices and prayers, Socrates had a different conception and believed that the rituals and sacrifices offered were useless and his actions were based on disconnecting the divinity from the identity and practical roots of the city (McCannon, 2010).
Addressing Socrates Believes in the Trial of Socrates
In the Euthyphro, Socrates believes that piety is anything that pleases God. Socrates was strong in religious issues but in Euthyphros he argues on morality with relation to religious principles (O’Sullivan, 2006). In the trial of Socrates, he introduces the divide command theory and asserts that the actions which are morally good are approved and anything that is pious pleases god. People should have the moral obligation to obey the God’s commandment since God commands the right things and forbids the wrong things. During the conversation in Euthyphro, Socrates follows the divine command theory and asserts that God commands things which are morally right (O’Sullivan, 2006). In addition, morality is not a command but it is God’s omnibenevolent nature and human being should not violate it. Thus, people must have self-analysis and implement a coherent personal plan in order to eliminate conflict between ethical and religion. He tries to explain that piety is not something which is desired by gods and gods do not have control over things which are morally good. The point is that the divine power influences the pious and gods can enhance goodness through influencing the human environment, the human nature and the peoples in the moral community (O’Sullivan, 2006). Experts who offer English dissertation help at Edudorm essay writing service indicates that according to Socrates in the trial of Socrates prayers and sacrifices are impious because they are done to benefit God and God does not require human acknowledgment. God has the power and he is provider of everything. He goes on and states that prayers and sacrifices are beneficial to man and this is clearly understood by focusing on care of God and care of man. A human being can do nothing to care God since he needs nothing from man and thus, man cannot benefit God.
Defense Speech in the Trial of Socrates
In his defense speech in the trial of Socrates, Socrates asserts that his actions rooted from prophesy and he recognized himself as the wisest. He rejects that he is a teacher and he does injustice by introducing new things and in corrupting the youths he asserts that he has never been a teacher to anybody and he had never taught any instructions. In addition, in the trial of Socrates, he raises the Xenophon problem and asks “How can Athenians maintain that homonoia is of paramount importance if they have failed to recognize the value of a common education?” (Mintz, 2014). Authors who offer English homework help at Edudorm essay writing service points that Homonoia should be provided by expert knowledge and according in the trial of Socrates, he is interested in culture and education. His intention is not to mislead the youths but to shape their behaviors. Since he is referred as impious for many reasons, he defends himself by saying that he calls himself wise but he knows nothing. He ignored the teachings of wise men and enticed the youth of Athens to follow his teachings (Mintz, 2014).
Socrates View of Religion in the Trial of Socrates
In the trial of Socrates, his view of religion is explained from the standpoint of Athenian religiosity (Giordano-Zecharya, 2005). His accusations with respect to atheism and disbelief make his religion explicit. In his religion, he believes that Athenians did not have fundamental beliefs of God. He asserts that in the Greek religion, there were no fixed doctrines. Their beliefs, prayers and sacrifices did not have any significance and their ritual actions were intrinsic ambiguity. Based on religion, he concludes that a religion practices should be rationalized by beliefs. Tutors who offer English coursework help at Edudorm essay writing service acknowledges that also there should be ways which specifies the set of beliefs and practices. Socrates did not belief in gods and he asserts that he believed in spiritual things and taught the right things. In the trial of Socrates, his accusations clearly show that he misinterpreted the Athenian rituals and beliefs; He offended the gods and viewed their beliefs as culture of ritual and incongruity of faith (Giordano-Zecharya, 2005). He contradicts with Athenians beliefs of holding customary and asserts that they were being misled by the gods. He believes on having a conviction, having subjective opinion on a conviction and having confidence in his beliefs.
Views of Socrates Accusers
The views of Socrates accusers and view of Socrates differ since they both viewed the reasons for accusation through a different angle. The accuser’s views in the trial of Socrates were based on the idea that Socrates must worship the gods so that he can be considered a believer (MORRIS, 2011). The accusers found him guilty for not worshipping the gods, corrupting the youths and introducing deities. On the other hand, Socrates believed on virtues and morality and when discussing the issue of worship he focused on morality. In the trial of Socrates, he rejected the traditional views and believed in one God and believed that the State should be led by wise men. Both accusations were normal and reasonable in that they showed the conflict between two religions in the State. Socrates aim was to lead the nation and teach the youth the morality for future development and leadership (MORRIS, 2011). He introduced the role of ethics and apology to show that the actions they did toward their gods were not morally acceptable in the Athenian society. Mentors who offer urgent essay help at Edudorm essay writing service recognizes that his actions acted as a threat to the city since the accusers in the trial of Socrates believed that any person who has a power to control is an indication that he has the power to control the future government. Note that being the introducer of political philosophy led him to meet the accusations since there was conflict between the philosophy and Athenian community (MORRIS, 2011). It is right to say that his views in the trial of Socrates acted as a threat and caused the religious charge as he was trying to reveal the new cultural life with respect to the law. His political affairs and power of improving human soul and uniting the city with philosophy puts him to trail and by understanding the indictment he apologizes for being imprudent (MORRIS, 2011).
Meletus Arguments
Meletus could convince the jurors in the trial of Socrates that Socrates was not atheism during his trail when he states that he is accused for doing a research on thing above and things on earth. In the initial claim, Socrates asks whether a human being should live in a place where there are good or bad people, Meletus responds that it is good to live with good people to avoid harm which may be caused by bad people (McCannon, 2010). Essay writers online who offer custom essay help at Edudorm essay writing service argues that then, Socrates asserts that he cannot corrupt the youth in that he has lived with them as good people and if his intention was to harm them, he himself could also be harmed. At this time, Meletus could withdraw the case and conclude that Socrates was corrupting the youths unintentionally. He asserts that he does not dishonor Athen believes but he uses his knowledge to examine new things (McCannon, 2010). He states that wise people in Athens should do their research and he will not rejecting their beliefs. While doing his research in the trial of Socrates and in introducing new teachings, he does not do that for the purpose of money but rather he focuses on changing the youth and directing them to the wise things (McCannon, 2010).
References
O’Sullivan, B. (2006). The Euthyphro Argument (9d-11b). Southern Journal of Philosophy, 44(4), 657-675.
Giordano-Zecharya, M. (2005). As Socrates Shows, the Athenians Did Not Believe in Gods. Numen: International Review for the History of Religions, 52(3), 325-355.
McCannon, B. C. (2010). The median juror and the trial of Socrates. European Journal of Political economy, 26(4), 533-540.
Mintz, A. I. (2014). Why did Socrates Deny that he was a Teacher? Locating Socrates among the new educators and the traditional education in Plato’s Apology of Socrates. Educational Philosophy & Theory, 46(7), 735-747.
MORRIS, T. F. (2011). THE WAY IN WHICH SOCRATES IS RELIGIOUS: THE EPILOGUE OF THE FIRST SPEECH of THE APOLOGY. Heythrop Journal, 52(1), 2-13.
