Paper Example on Socrates Trial

Introduction

Based on the historical accounts, Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher and the founders of the western philosophy (West et al. 78).It is imperative to note that, Socrates based on his enigmatic figure he did no writings but through his student Plato we understand him more along with his massive contribution and strong influence in the field of philosophy. On the same account, Plato tends to portray Socrates as a great philosopher whose participation in the area of art, literature alongside his massive contribution in embracing the western cultures have made him a key figure in the west of philosophical traditions. Significantly, the central concern of this paper is to unravel the entire Socrates life as a teacher who was later prosecuted and executed after a long period following the massive influence of the socio-political and how the global factors influence his trial in the 399BC (West et al. 78).

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Why Athens Prosecuted and Executed Socrates

In a bid to understand this greatest era in the human history, the trial and execution of Socrates are indebted in many scholars who have inculcated the massive contribution to the knowledge concerning the Greek philosophy and culture (West et al. 78). Following the in-depth analysis of them based on the historical accounts of the early life of the Socrates the great renown Greek philosopher and his massive contributions cannot be disputed. The conflict between the Athenian authorities and Socrates about the content of his teachings fuelled his prosecution and further execution. According to the Athenian authorities, Socrates teaching fails to acknowledge and recognize the gods recognized by the states. Based on this accusation, the Socrates teachings on the western philosophy branded corrupt, and most youths were carried away by his instructions which were contrary to the state laws and if found guilty was to be sentenced to death.

On the same account, Socrates having engaged in the mission to reform the Athenian society, the authorities perceived him the wrong way. They render him a threat to the entire public where all the agencies accused him of threatening the values as well as the beliefs with regards to the essential unity and stability within the city. On the same note, the prosecution and execution of Socrates profoundly influenced by both the political, performance took a more extended period until Socrates was 70 years seem as a fact-finding mission by the jury and those who accuse him. It also took long primarily to ascertain the content of his teaching to be unworthy and worth prosecution by death (Martinez et al .68).

Personal Factors That Influence the Socrates Trial

Historically, Socrates own lifestyle propagated his trials and prosecution which is one of the longest, though Athens branded one of the most democratic societies provided the conducive atmosphere where he could teach and influence people to adopt his western philosophy. Tentatively, Socrates indictment mode of teaching and failing to acknowledge gods recognized by the state forms the personal factors responsible for his execution. On the other hand, the tragic confrontation brought in Athens by philosophical teachings of Socrates on the political as well as the existing philosophical realms in existence for many years poised a great threat worth prosecution. Socrates, as commonly known as the founder of the western philosophy through his teachings, tends to focus on the individual's mind to make them see sense justified the moral claim on disobeying the existing gods embraced by the state(Afshari et al .2).

Political Factors That Influence the Socrates Trial

The great works of the Socrates were seen to undermine the political peace and stability of the entire Athenian city. Socrates philosophical mission challenges his fellow people to tolerate critical mind, and polis also was engaged in constant a conflict with Socrates. Conversely, the content of his teachings tends to undermine political expectation of whole of the Athenian city highly threatened seen as going contrary to the political expectation of the ordinary citizen of the Athenian town at that time(Uhl et al .2). Besides, Socrates teachings based on the western philosophy pulled a tyranny of people who believed in him and were entirely convinced of his beliefs to undermine the Athenian political arrangements. More importantly, by embracing the western philosophy, the political democracy was significantly threatened steering threat to the public justice thereby weakening the political stability. Therefore it is worth noting the fact that, the continued prosecution and execution of Socrates was fully propagated by his teachings which were seen to undermine the political stability, democracy as well as the moral values (Kenny 28).

Cultural Factors That Influence the Socrates Trial

The most contributing factors to the more extended trial of Socrates was culturally related because the western philosophical teaching approach of Socrates majorly focus on decolonising the mind of the entire Athenian society to a adopt new beliefs(Uhl et al.2). The whole of the Athenian city is one of the culturally based whose guiding principles emanates from the cultural background. The entire town was therefore mandated to follow and accept the societal dictates, norms as well as the values as prescribed in the law. When Socrates came in, with the dictates to colonize the mind through the western philosophical teachings, he viewed as a threat and subject to conviction. Socrates on the other hand, valued much his cultural beliefs anthem asserted categorically that, he instead disobey the state but not to go against the higher moral laws of God. His prosecution and execution were the juries plan to end his philosophical mission in the entire Athenian city solely. Similarly, by Socrates proclaiming his thoughtful is not about the man but God to whom he adores and respects steer conflict with the Athenian juries which later resulted in his prosecution and execution (Kenny 28).

How Global-Factors Influences the Socrates Trial

Based on the historical accounts, by 399 BC the western philosophy adopted by Socrates more so in the Athenian city (Uhl et al .2). Significantly, the global execution of the 70 years old Greek philosopher sparkled global discussions with some key elements majorly from the United States supporting the Athenians to execute Socrates entirely. Ultimately, Socrates teachings on the western philosophy were taking place at a time when the Athenian democracy was recovering after being restored. Thus Socrates teachings agitated the global resistance viewed as a threat to the political freedom in the entire city. Based on this accusation, Socrates prosecution, as well as the execution, was greatly influenced by the global factors (Kenny 28).

Conclusion

In summary, Socrates mission to teach the western philosophy, greatly influenced by cultural, political as well as the personal awareness which later led to his execution. Based on his offences widely accused of corrupting the minds youths in the entire Athenian city and not believing in the gods of the state led to his punishment and death caused by drinking a mixture containing poison. Significantly, by allowing Socrates to drink the poison alone would mean execution by his own mistakes (Kenny 28).

Works Cited

Afshari, Reza. "The "Voice" and Execution of Socrates." (2018): 1-3

Uhl, Chad. "Conflating Piety and Justice in Euripides' Orestes." Berkeley Undergraduate Journal of Classics 6.2 (2018). 35-98

Martinez, Joel A., and Nicholas D. Smith. "Socrates' Aversion to Being a Victim of Injustice." The Journal of Ethics 22.1 (2018): 59-76.

Kenny, Anthony. An illustrated brief history of western philosophy. Wiley-Blackwell, 2018. 22-88

West, Thomas G., and Platon. Plato's Apology of Socrates: an interpretation, with a new translation. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2018