Despite his spirited defense against charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, Socrates was sentenced to death by poisoning in 399 B.C.E. by a jury of his Athenian peers.
Socrates was one of ancient Greece ’s most influential philosophers . With his interrogative nature , he stands alongside Plato , Aristotle , and Epicurus as one of the great minds of the ancient world .
But in his prison term , Socrates was also a controversial figure . Though he had many followers — despite never couch his thoughts down in write form — funny dramatists spoof and mocked Socrates ’ teachings . What ’s more , the philosopher cut an unusual figure in mantrap - obsessed Athens with his potbelly , unkempt hair , and bulging eye .
Then there is the subject of Socrates ’ death . At the age of 70 , Socrates was institute to run and charged with impiousness , or a deficiency of reverence for the Hellenic gods , as well as sully the Athenian youth . He was ultimately sentenced to death by a jury of his fellow Athenians .
Classic Image / Alamy Stock PhotoSocrates, a Classical Greek philosopher who lived from 470 – 399 B.C.E.
In the wake of his death , Plato write theApology of Socrates , which was purported to be the speech Socrates gave at his tryout ( in Greekapologiameans “ denial ” ) . This actor’s line became a foundational written document and cemented Socrates as one of history ’s with child philosopher .
So how did Socrates die ? And why ?
Who Was Socrates?
Born in in 470 B.C.E. in Athens , Greece , Socrates was one of the three most influential thinkers of Greco-Roman antiquity , alongside Plato — an zealous student of Socrates — and Aristotle . Though he and his melodic theme were mocked during his living , particularly in Aristophanes ’ popular playClouds , Socrates ’ doctrine have live for thousands of years .
Classic Image / Alamy Stock PhotoSocrates , a Classical Grecian philosopher who lived from 470 – 399 B.C.E.
Despite being revered as a smashing creative thinker , Socrates famously claimed that he never assay to teach anything — because he knew nothing . Rather , he was known for what has since been dub the “ Socratic method acting ” of lease in public , query - driven conversations about a litany of subjects like the nature of justice , sexual morality , and soundness .
Public DomainSocrates addressing a crowd of Athenians.
In short , his school of thought be summed up in a single quote :
“ The only rightful wisdom is in bang you know nothing . ”
But Socrates was not without his detractors . In beauty- and position - obsessed Athens , Socrates stand up out because of his physical ugliness and disinterest in amassing power . He also pushed back against many cherished Athenian ideas , like Greek democracy , and , worst of all , often made his fellow citizen look like chesty muggins .
Public DomainThe Death of Socratesby Jacques Louis David (1787).
But more serious charge were also levied against the philosopher at the end of his life , which would lead to Socrates ’ death .
The Controversies And Crimes Of Socrates
Beyond embarrassing his fellow Athenians in debate , the philosopher also made a telephone number of decision which may have finally led to Socrates ’ death in 399 B.C.E.
While process in Athens ’ assembly , or ekklesia , in 406 B.C.E. after the Peloponnesian War , Socrates alone opposed putting Athenian general who had failed to go back their stagnant from the battleground on trial . In 409 B.C.E. , Socrates likewise fend alone when he reject to participate in the stoppage and execution of a humans named Leon of Salamis .
Furthermore , Athens had shift . And as the city ’s strength falter , it became less large-minded of the strange philosopher with his unkempt appearance and never-ending barrage of questions . Socrates ’ ideas about individualism of a sudden took on a sinister note of hand for many Athenians .
Public DomainSocrates teaching Alcibiades.
Public DomainSocrates addressing a crowd of Athenians .
Indeed , some historiographer have suggested that much of the public disdain for Socrates stem from a resistance to self - observation . When clip were good , it was perhaps easy to entertain deep question . In more explosive times , however , questions could be dangerous .
Plato’sApology , which begins with a purported recounting of Socrates ’ oral communication to the jurors at his trial , explains this notion further . Generally utter , however , Socrates got in trouble for his tendency to cross - canvas the steadfastly held beliefs of his fellow citizens .
He happened to talk most frequently with Athen ’s youth , who often took his ideas and used them against the older generation . Thus , Socrates was finally charged with “ corrupt the youth . ”
This charge , and the charge of impiousness , led to Socrates ’ death .
How Did Socrates Die? Inside His Forced Suicide
Public DomainThe Death of Socratesby Jacques Louis David ( 1787 ) .
Ultimately , Socrates was get to trial on billing of impiety and corrupting the spring chicken .
And though Socrates mounted a spirited defense , as documented by Plato , he was ineffective to win over the 500 - man jury of his innocence . They voted to convict him on a voting of 280 to 221 .
The ancient Athenian organization also allowed defendants to suggest their own punishments . Socrates , jokingly , first said that he should be pay back . His jurors did not obtain this funny . He then suggest an fabulously minor fine .
This did nothing to persuade the panel — quite the reverse . More jurors voted for the dying penalty than had deemed him guilty .
Even then , the philosopher was given the option of exile from the metropolis . But he chose to remain and accept the finding of fact . He said that “ he owe it to the city under whose laws he had been elevate to honor those practice of law to the letter . ”
Ultimately , Socrates was give a loving cup of poisonous substance — probable hemlock , a highly poisonous plant related to Petroselinum crispum — and ended his life at the geezerhood of 70 , hated by many of his fellow citizens . But that did n’t seem to bother the famous philosopher , who purportedly foregather his end courageously .
As his student Plato wrote : “ He appeared happy both in manner and words as he fail nobly and without fear . ”
The Controversial Charges That Led To Socrates Death
Ever since Socrates died in 399 B.C.E , the charges against him have been scrutinized by scholars . Did the philosopher deserve his time ?
Asart historian David Bowles argue : “ the charge of impiety is a vague charge which would have been unlikely to raise a condemnation on its own . Similarly , the second kick of corrupting the juvenility is equivocal and lacks any substantial grounds in musical accompaniment of it . ”
Socrates ’ indictment explained that the impiety boot came about because he was “ shamefaced of not recognise the gods recognized by the metropolis , and of introducing other new divinities . ” However , Bowles remark that many foreigners , non - citizens , and slaves all exercise various religions . Even the pantheon worshipped by the ancient Greeks had its own raiment of unlike divinity .
That said , Socrates was known to refer to “ God ” or else of “ gods . ”
And as for the charge of “ corrupting the youth , ” Socrates himself had turn to that , take on that his conversations with younger citizen may have inadvertently created some generational discourse , but it was just on the scale of anything revolutionary .
Public DomainSocrates teaching Alcibiades .
But aa controversial 2009 studyfrom Cambridge University classicist Paul Cartledge argued the opposite : that Socrates had indeed been “ guilty as institutionalize . ”
“ Everyone get it on that the Greeks invented democracy , but it was not republic as we know it , and we have misread story as a result , ” Cartledge tell . “ The charges Socrates faced seem ridiculous to us , but in Ancient Athens they were genuinely felt to serve the communal good . ”
This was especially true in the atmosphere of the day , as Athens was choke through concentrated times . Undesirables like Socrates who pushed back against the status quo were easy whipping boy . In the philosopher ’s case , his interrogative nature and refusal to stick to social norm led to his demise .
After translate about the death of Socrates , learn all about the decease of popish emperorJulius Caesar . Then , dive into the disturbing theories surround thedeath of Alexander the Great .
