Brandon Owens. Socratic. Paper 3 Feb. 20, 2007
Fellow Athenians,
For your sake and that of Athens, herself, please listen closely to what I would tell you. I will not speak with eloquence, an ability which I lack, but with all of the truth that is available to me. I would seek not to persuade any of you for my own sake, or that of the accused, but for the betterment of Athens. A man whom the gods have blessed Athens with by seating him here and has only ever sought out and followed the will of the god, has been placed on trial today for crimes which he has never committed.
The only suitable place to start anything is at the beginning, so it is there that I will start. Some of you may remember Chaerephon, who is now dead. He, being the impulsive man of action that he was, traveled to Delphi to inquire as to whether there was any on earth wiser than Socrates. The Oracle’s response was “no.” Perplexed, Socrates set out to find the meaning of this revelation by questioning those who were considered by the masses to be smarter and more knowledgeable than the rest. Socrates found that while neither he nor the questioned knew anything of value or worth, he, Socrates, did not pretend to know or act in a manner which suggested that he did. This is the difference between Socrates and other men according to the revelation of the god, Apollo, at whose oracle in Delphi the discovery was made. To carry out the will of the god is what is just and appropriate for all Greeks to do, including Socrates. While Chaerephon is now dead, his brother who bore witness to the events described here can give an account of these things.
His accusers would have you all believe that Socrates has corrupted the youth and taught them great and harmful things. This is not, in fact, true in any sense which it might be perceived. Our beloved Socrates has never once attempted to teach anyone with the exception of himself. Many have even offered to pay the impoverished Socrates for his wisdom, all of which have been declined. Those who follow Socrates around Athens do so of their own accord and for whatever individual reason it is that the god has possessed them to do so. Socrates accepts no students as he claims that he has nothing to teach and only answers to be sought out.
The second charge laid against Socrates is one which I have found quite confusing and nearly unable to fully grasp as it lacks no basis for substantiation. This charge claims that Socrates does not worship the gods of the city. I am uncertain as to what exactly this means. Do the charges imply that Socrates does not believe in the gods at all and is thus to be labeled an atheist by the accusers? Or do the accusers imply that Socrates worships some gods other than those worshiped in Athens and the Hellenic world? Either of these alternatives is, at any rate, false and has no bearing in any thought based in reality. You have all seen Socrates at the festivals held in honor of the gods, and Socrates always sacrifices as is appropriate for a mortal to do. Socrates is following the will of the god as we are currently speaking by continuing his life of inquiry, which the god Apollo has laid out before him.
To say that what Socrates’ lifestyle harms Athens is far from the truth of the matter and is in fact the opposite of it. Socrates has served in the Athenian military and shown his patriotism and valor on more than one occasion. Would any here argue that doing the will of the god is anything other than good for the city? It is the responsibility of all Greeks to carry out the will of the gods as it is laid before them. Socrates has only ever benefited Athens by asking his questions, which are pointed toward the truth of matters and are often difficult to answer of process.
I would warn you against those who argue based on anything but the truth, employing eloquence for eloquence’s sake and who attempt to deceive this jury by appealing to anything other than logic and reason. To appeal to anything else would be a great insult to both you as individuals and to Athens as a whole. Beware of such arguments as they will lead you astray and bring you to a conclusion that is based in something other than the truth of their argument.
Thank you all for your patience and attentiveness. May you all make the best decision that has been made available to you.
Fellow Athenians,
For your sake and that of Athens, herself, please listen closely to what I would tell you. I will not speak with eloquence, an ability which I lack, but with all of the truth that is available to me. I would seek not to persuade any of you for my own sake, or that of the accused, but for the betterment of Athens. A man whom the gods have blessed Athens with by seating him here and has only ever sought out and followed the will of the god, has been placed on trial today for crimes which he has never committed.
The only suitable place to start anything is at the beginning, so it is there that I will start. Some of you may remember Chaerephon, who is now dead. He, being the impulsive man of action that he was, traveled to Delphi to inquire as to whether there was any on earth wiser than Socrates. The Oracle’s response was “no.” Perplexed, Socrates set out to find the meaning of this revelation by questioning those who were considered by the masses to be smarter and more knowledgeable than the rest. Socrates found that while neither he nor the questioned knew anything of value or worth, he, Socrates, did not pretend to know or act in a manner which suggested that he did. This is the difference between Socrates and other men according to the revelation of the god, Apollo, at whose oracle in Delphi the discovery was made. To carry out the will of the god is what is just and appropriate for all Greeks to do, including Socrates. While Chaerephon is now dead, his brother who bore witness to the events described here can give an account of these things.
His accusers would have you all believe that Socrates has corrupted the youth and taught them great and harmful things. This is not, in fact, true in any sense which it might be perceived. Our beloved Socrates has never once attempted to teach anyone with the exception of himself. Many have even offered to pay the impoverished Socrates for his wisdom, all of which have been declined. Those who follow Socrates around Athens do so of their own accord and for whatever individual reason it is that the god has possessed them to do so. Socrates accepts no students as he claims that he has nothing to teach and only answers to be sought out.
The second charge laid against Socrates is one which I have found quite confusing and nearly unable to fully grasp as it lacks no basis for substantiation. This charge claims that Socrates does not worship the gods of the city. I am uncertain as to what exactly this means. Do the charges imply that Socrates does not believe in the gods at all and is thus to be labeled an atheist by the accusers? Or do the accusers imply that Socrates worships some gods other than those worshiped in Athens and the Hellenic world? Either of these alternatives is, at any rate, false and has no bearing in any thought based in reality. You have all seen Socrates at the festivals held in honor of the gods, and Socrates always sacrifices as is appropriate for a mortal to do. Socrates is following the will of the god as we are currently speaking by continuing his life of inquiry, which the god Apollo has laid out before him.
To say that what Socrates’ lifestyle harms Athens is far from the truth of the matter and is in fact the opposite of it. Socrates has served in the Athenian military and shown his patriotism and valor on more than one occasion. Would any here argue that doing the will of the god is anything other than good for the city? It is the responsibility of all Greeks to carry out the will of the gods as it is laid before them. Socrates has only ever benefited Athens by asking his questions, which are pointed toward the truth of matters and are often difficult to answer of process.
I would warn you against those who argue based on anything but the truth, employing eloquence for eloquence’s sake and who attempt to deceive this jury by appealing to anything other than logic and reason. To appeal to anything else would be a great insult to both you as individuals and to Athens as a whole. Beware of such arguments as they will lead you astray and bring you to a conclusion that is based in something other than the truth of their argument.
Thank you all for your patience and attentiveness. May you all make the best decision that has been made available to you.
posted by brandon | 11:44 AM
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