More on Socrates

      Today we learned that although he is remembered as a brilliant philosopher, Socrates was actually charged with 2 crimes. Because his teaching method was so new and different, he was actually charged with corruption of Athens youth. Along with this, Socrates was charged with the crime of impiety. A trial was called for his two crimes, and he had one chance to defend himself. He defended himself saying, "Its my job to be the gadfly to the lazy sluggish horse that is Athens." and, " I should actually be rewarded with free dinners for life." For someone so smart this really surprised me that on  his one chance to defend himself he said those things. The jury took a vote and Socrates was pronounced guilty. As a result of him being guilty of his two crimes, he was sentenced to death by hemlock poison. While in jail waiting for his death day, his supporters were actually able to convince the guards to let Socrates go free, but on his one chance to escape Socrates refused. He proved his loyalty and did drink the poison, killing him within the hour.
        We had a discussion in class on whether we though Socrates should have been guilty or not, and after learning all the facts about him and living in todays world the whole class voted him to be innocent. However, when we voted in the perspective of a ancient Athens jury member, we voted him guilty. It was interesting to see and helped us understand better why Socrates was found guilty.