(Paper #3) Corrupting the Youth of Athens is a very serious charge, one not to be taken lightly by anyone. While I am sure that the Radical Democrats have many reasons why Socrates should be convicted I would like to ask you what exactly corrupting the youth entails. Does it simply mean that a person has taught children values that do not uphold what we consider to be Athenian? If this is the case then I do not see how we can convict anyone with this charge since we have not yet once been able to decide what is in the best interest of Athens unanimously. We all think that we know what is in the best interest of Athens but who decides which one of us is correct.

You will probably say that the majority of citizens would always be correct, but do you not also say that people can be swayed by “golden-tongued orators.” Might these orators not have the best intentions for Athens and her people. Since people are easily swayed by words then how can the majority be considered a reliable source for what is best for Athens? With these orators passionately speaking and persuading the masses to their idea of Athens we are not letting them think for themselves and come to their own conclusions, their vote can be “bought” with eloquent, fiery words spoken by a master of persuasion. Is this not what you have feared most above all, that democracy has a flaw, and that each person does not in fact have a vote because they are being forced and threatened into voting a certain way.

I think that you all would like to see Socrates brought to justice. That is the “right” thing to do. But is not “right” simply what is in the best interest of the majority. Therefore because it is the right thing to do is not sufficient cause to convict Socrates. Right and wrong are terms that bend and change each day according to the masses. They are not reliable and cannot be used when a man's life might be at stake. We must first determine what right and wrong are before we can speak of justice and punishment. How are we to make sure that everyone is given the same definition of right and wrong when they do not all have the same jurors, or are tried on the same day. People are imperfect and they can be bought and persuaded to one view or another. I therefore feel that in order to convict Socrates of corrupting the youth, we must first decide what really is the best for Athens, and what is right and wrong. Only then can we truly know whether he is corrupting our youth or simply a thorn in our esteemed Radical Democrats side.