Socrates Corruption In Plato's Apology

In Plato’s Apology, we are faced with the narration of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is being accused of corrupting the youth of Athens for his lack of not recognizing the gods. Early on in the text, on page seven we are presented with the accusations to which Socrates is being accused of; “What do they say? Something of this sort: - That Socrates is a doer of evil, and corruptor of the youth, and he doesn’t not believe in the gods of the state, and has other new divinities of his own.” These accusations have been brought to the courts attention from the likes of Anytus, Lycon and Meletus, who are very adamant about the teaching to which Socrates has corrupted in the minds of the Athenian youth. While I do not think …show more content…
Meletus is hard pressed on the fact that he thinks Socrates is a complete atheist and that Socrates is a teacher of atheism rather than that of the teachings of gods. In front of the courts entirety, Socrates asks Meletus to express his opinion on Socrates teachings upon the people of Athens; “Meletus, in what I am affirmed to corrupt the youth. I suppose you mean, as I infer from your indictment, that I teach them not to acknowledge the gods, which the state acknowledges, but some other new divinities or spiritual agencies in their stead. These are the lessons which corrupt the youth you say?” From the perspective of Meletus, he is completely certain that this was the role and teaching to which Socrates was trying to exploit upon the people of Athens. These blunt accusations come as not only a complete surprise to Socrates, but also one that digs deeper into right versus wrong ideology of teachings. The outraged Socrates counters Meletus evaluation by countering in his defense, “Meletus, of whom we are speaking, tell the court, and me in somewhat plainer terms, what you mean! For I do not entire some gods, and therefore do believe in gods, and am not an entire atheist-this you do not lay to my charge; -but only that they are not the same gods which the city recognizes-the charge is that they are different gods. Or do you mean to say that I am an atheist …show more content…
While one person’s perspective regarding a specific issue or topic might be completely polar opposite to that of another members perspective, there are many shared perspectives that these same individuals can agree upon. This is not only something that makes communities as a whole so fascinating but those that are members of each community that much more intriguing. In regards to Socrates deficient regard for the law of the greater city, he most defiantly was an outcast in the greater scheme of the city, but not necessarily an insufficient regard for the fellow members of the city or the laws to which they