Athenian Assembly,

I would that the entirety of the Athenian polis was made of such stuff as our dearest philosopher Socrates. Truly, then, we would have no need for an Assembly. His argument for the implementation of a ruling class of self-sacrificial, philosophical disembogues -- created for justice -- is a highly commendable one. Where Socrates fails (even downright blunders, taking into account his genius), is in his inability to allow for something short of an idealized, even fictitious, citizen-body. As one of his followers exemplified in our prior assemblage, the mind -- even a Socratic mind -- is capable of bungled statements and simple mistakes. These “philosopher kings or “Guardians” of the people would have to possess many qualities of the gods which man simply cannot expect to obtain.
Socrates is a rare creature of thought. Is it safe to say that he would make a trustworthy and disciplined “philosopher king?” The mere fact that I would ask such a question is telling of his overwhelming control with clever oration – and in this manner, he is certainly a threat.
Although I do not deride and in fact love Socrates the man, I am disturbed by the potential effects that could be imposed upon the next generation of Athenian citizens. Such lofty ideals composed of in his arguments against democracy are fit only for capricious discussion among educated men of grounded reasoning skills, and are in fact encouraged in our polis so long as they are understood as creations of whim; obsolete in practice.
Given the tender nature of the present situation here in Athens, and although he is a brave and loyal fighter as I have known, I must insist that Socrates be found guilty in this prosecution. I am not a man of politics, yet as an athlete and soldier I have been disciplined to perceive threatening circumstances, and act upon them accordingly. Yes, Socrates should be found guilty, but not for “undermining Athenian values” as was originally charged, but for the unfortunate occasion of being a genius among petty knaves like our populous. His greatness only makes us feel bad, and his solutions range from the far-fetched, such as the decidedly hypocritical application of censorship, to the downright wrong – women rulers? Women do have certain “talents” – I can and do often attest to this sentiment, as many of you know – but they certainly do not apply to politics, and I would prefer to keep these two subject pains in separate facilities.
There is in Socrates as much to be admired as condemned. He speaks from some “arena” of truth, but even a man seeking justice in all things cannot hope to achieve in actual life that which resides in his fantasy. Already he has many followers which believe to the contrary, and would be content in inert reflection where they should be training their bodies and minds to have strength for external conflict (and the gods know we have our fair share of adversity already). Whatever the outcome, I will intercede on behalf of Socrates should his life be at stake. Even the gravest error of a contagious tongue should be remedied in far cleverer ways than execution.

Thanks be to the gods,
Rich Athlete