Understanding why Athenians were executed
To understand why the Athenians executed Socrates in 399, one must first take a deeper look into his life. Socrates was born in 469 in Athens, son of the sculptor Sophroniscus and the midwife Phainarete. He belonged to the small Athenian bourgeoisie. He began to work in his father's workshop. After 421, he married Xanthippe and had three sons. Socrates lived in the period of the war of Peloponnese. He was a brave fighter at Poleidaia, Delion, and at Amphipolis in 422. He showed force, courage and generosity. Throughout his political life, Socrates did not have governmental charges and he never tried to have any. In 405-406, he was a member of the Council of the Five hundred. At the time, Athens was under a democratic government. Socrates was chosen a judge. He was the only one to side against the democratic government that wanted to make summary justice accusing the admirals collectively, like it was established on the contrary by the law. In 408 Athens was under the oligarchical government of the Thirty. Socrates was charged, with four other citizens, to arrest the democratic Lion of Salamis. He
Socrates refused an easy escape and drank the hemlock voluntarily. To the Athenians, at the point of death, he said, "It is time to go: I die and you to live. Who of us had better destiny is dark to all except to gods." It was 399 B.C. and Socrates had lived 70 years. Socrates fame spread all over Greece. The most respected and educated men from all around came to him to enjoy his friendly company and instruction. The wish to hear him was so great; his friends risked their lives just to be with him daily. thought this was not just and refused to execute it. Socrates believed that, although he was wrongfully accused, he would be given a fair trial through the eyes of the law. The fact that he was given a fair trial means that he was given a fair punishment. If this punishment is not carried out, justice will not be served. Escaping punishment would cause a conflict between his teachings and his actions. Socrates tried to transform ethics and politics in subjects of scientific research that could reveal universal laws and truth, in opposition to skepticism and relativism. In Socrates philosophical acti
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Approximate Word count = 757
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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