The Trial and Death of Socrates - Essay Example

s the assignment was due The trial and death of Socrates Our world, since its ‘origination’ has been a‘hotbed’ of activity. Activity in the sense, we humans have been showing activeness both mentally and physically, which have transformed our globe from a primitive one to an advanced one. These activities are normally carried out by the humans, segregating themselves into different countries or states, attaining unique identities. It is a common knowledge that for a country or a state to reach the top echelons, citizens of that state should have major responsibility in the proper functioning of that state. Also, they should have responsibility towards the laws of the state. So, this paper will analyze these two responsibilities as well as the relationship of the laws to the state using the text, Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato. That is, the paper will answer the questions about the responsibilities and the relationships using Socrates’ heroic speech, featured in the second part of the work In the work, Socrates was indicted for being a ‘hyper curious’ person and also for being a ‘corrupting influence’ on the Youth. So, in the speech, Socrates counters both these charges in two different ways. As created by Plato, Socrates shows his humbler side in the first part of the work, while in the second part of the work; Socrates presents himself as a heroic figure. In that part, Socrates’ speech is filled with a lot of heroic touches as he fearlessly fights the injustice meted out to him in the court and importantly gives his views on how the individuals should be responsible to the state. Socrates one of the profound intellectuals, the world has seen, earned the wrath of the Anytus, Meletus and Lycon, who accuse him of two civil crimes. Firstly, he was accused of spreading misinformation and also he was accused of intentionally ‘seeding’ unwanted and blasphemous thoughts among the youths against the gods, recognized by the State. So, Socrates while refuting both the charges expresses his views about individual’s responsibility to the state. Socrates expresses it, when he speaks about his role of a well-wisher for the people of Athens. In a highly inflammatory tone, Socrates first claims that nothing good has been happening to Athenians because of the callous attitude and the misrule of the rulers. So, he wants the people not to sit idle, but rise up to take on the responsibility on their own. That is, as states are structural things which cannot function on its own, it has to be the people who govern it, who should take the responsibility. But, some times or even many times, the elected or appointed people in the government positions may not function in a effective way, deteriorating the states’ and its people’s condition. In that case only, Socrates wants the individuals to rise up and do some responsible actions to their state. He wants the people to protest against the inefficiency of the rulers and thereby change their functioning, and if that is not working, he wants the people to remove them from those government positions, with whatever means. Socrates prophesies that these steps will surely bring in benefits to all the citizens. Then, he also exhibits his own responsibility by uttering, if he is not in the court, he can change the functioning of the impotent state. He stresses this point by comparing him to a ‘stinging gadfly’ and the state as a ‘lazy horse’. Also, while countering the charges against him, which he thinks borders mostly on the gossip and slander angle, Socrates argues that, he did not fear the death. He opines that those who fear death are ignorant of it. Through these views, Socrates wants the individuals to fight for their state without having any fear about death. So, the main issue is that, individuals should not be scared, and should be courageous to take on any issues which are bothering the proper functioning of the state. Also, they should not be threatened by powerful forces and be prepared to fight them without fear, till their last breath, if their country and its people are under threat. According to Plato, Socrates even considers death as a great blessing, which could befall on any hero. So, here again, Socrates by not exhibiting even a trace of apprehension about his impending death, ask the individuals to fight for their country without any fear of death. By lecturing the younger generation of his times, he also wants the young people to be responsible to their states. That is, young people or youth of a state should only be responsible for the state, and should also respect its laws, when the older generation of leaders phase out. Young people should only have more responsibility or respect to the laws because most individuals will commit the crimes against the state and its people mainly in their young age. So, if the individuals have responsibility to the laws of the state, they will surely respect their fellow people and will greatly help in the proper functioning of their state. Socrates wishes that younger people of his state should take his death as an eye opener, and should follow him in criticizing the state, if it continues to do all the wrong things. So, individuals’ responsibility to laws should make them sincere and incorruptible, and thus make them responsible to the country and their fellow citizens. While talking about the individual’s responsibility to the law, he always wants the people to be curious and wants them to question their government, when specific laws or even beliefs were forced on them. Socrates illustrates this concept through his own life. That is, Socrates by making inquiries and giving new theories about the origins and functioning of the earth and sky, wants to question long held the beliefs of the state or the kingdom. Socrates did not take the stance of an authority, who knows and tells, but rather the stance of an inquirer who is curious and open to the ideas of others (Grube). So, this way, Socrates wants the individuals to question the archaic laws and be open to the ideas of others. When talking about the role of his country’s laws, courts and the judges, who are judging his supposed crimes, he provides views, which presents perspectives about the relationship of the laws to the state and the role the laws should play in regards to citizenry. That is, while replying to the first charge of spreading misinformation, he says that it is an old charge, which did not stem from any actual incident and facts, but through gossip and prejudice against him, cultivated by certain elements of the society. So, the laws and the guardians of the law, the state and the court should be careful while judging an accused. Care should be taken not to punish innocent people. Also, Socrates did not bow to the court, but stood his ground and heroically refused to defend or oppose unsubstantiated charges leveled against him. So, the laws of the state should not use unsubstantiated issues to convict innocents. This way, they should only aid the individuals who are doing responsible actions for the welfare of the state. Reference Grube, G. M. A. The Trial and Death of Socrates (3rd Edition). Hackett Pub Co Inc. June 2001. Read More