The Last Days of Socrates - an unlawful execution
Socrates, considered by many historians as the greatest mind to ever live, spent his final days under the false accusations of the law. These accusation were that Socrates was not worshipping the gods of the popular ancient culture, and was also corrupting the young with his constant questioning of the truths of other philosophers. Socrates defended himself under the eyes of the court, and proved to all through reason that the accusations of the court were false. However, the jury had found Socrates guilty, and sentenced him to death by drinking hemlock. Socrates' friend, Crito, argues with the philosopher to escape his eminent death, and flee the city, but Socrates argues that the state has the right to put him to death, and agrees to his execution, forever making him a martyr to truth and justice. I believe, however, that Socrates himself acted unjustly by letting the state execute him since he was an innocent man, the same kind of person the law is supposed to protect. Even though the arguments that Socrates provides for his own death are reasonable, he himself would do more good for more people if he himself escaped, even if it meant going against what he truly believed was the right thing to do.
Though the great Socrates provides a strong argument for his death, to many will suffer in return. Though he believes in absolute law, his "citizen's abortion" cannot be allowed, it is too costly for the state, and even his soul. Some people argue that Socrates needed to be a martyr in order to get the message across about either the necessary reformation of the law, or the futility of democracy, but their could also be a third option that I believe may be true. Perhaps Socrates wanted to be remembered forever. Maybe fame after death was his motive. Whatever the case, Socrates was wrong, and did not help others in the end, only himself. His death, did however, make him famous, but at what cost? Let us hope he chose the right thing to do, and his life was not wasted. Socrates goes on to argue that as a citizen who remains in the city of Athens, he is obliged to follow the Laws of the state. Crito argues, however that the laws that he obliged to are unjust, and Socrates would be furthering an injustice, and therefore would verify the laws are just by abiding to them whole-heartedly. If laws are supposed to protect the innocent, who or what are the people protecting themselves from if they send an innocent man to his death? Following the law, in this case, is, in essence, putting the law above the truth, rather than having them inherent in each other. Socrates would not submit himself to the truth, but to a false witn
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 968
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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