a.Class Notes #2

Socrates - the controversy.

• Athens was a great city which attracted brilliant thinkers.
• Visitors from all over the world shared their knowledge about astronomy, medicine, meteorology, literature, philosophy, and all scientific things. They all exchanged information.
• This was often at odds that centered around the Greek gods, and got young people thinking and questioning.

After, Socrates was accused of two crimes:

• Corruption of Athens' youth,
• And impiety (not believing in the gods of the state).

His defense:

• "It's my job to be gadfly to the lazy, sluggish horse that is Athens."
• "I should actually be rewarded with free dinners for life."

"I know you won't believe me, but the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

Aftermath:

• A jury of 500 male citizens found him guilty (279 - 221?)
• Sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock (extremely harsh, slow death after an hour).
• Although he had an opportunity to escape, but refused proving his loyalty to Athenian democracy.

An idiot in the Athenian democracy was someone who was characterized by self-centeredness (selfish) and concerned almost exclusively with private affairs (not showing up to vote).

In Athenian democracy, idiots were born and citizens were made through education.

Throughout his lifetime, Socrates stayed true to himself, and people were jealous because they couldn't accomplish that in their lifetimes.