why didnt socrates have a lawyer

What did Socrates say about the law?

Aug 24, 2017 · This is how Plato tries to reconcile unjust actions with the innate Justice of the Laws. By acquiescing to the injustice, Socrates upheld the Laws and Justice and therefore, the State built upon them. Failure to do so would have destroyed all the ideals, truths and forms he held dear. This is why Socrates had to die. –

Why was Socrates not able to escape from prison?

Why didn’t Socrates try to escape his death sentence? Socrates could have saved himself. He chose to go to trial rather than enter voluntary exile. In his defense speech, he rebutted some but not all elements of the charges and famously declared that "the unexamined life is not worth living." After being convicted, he could have proposed a ...

How does Socrates use the laws to solve the riddle?

In conclusion, considering all the factors, Socrates seems to have had no choice but to decline the offer of escape, and uphold his principles in the face of execution. The only course of action by which he would be wronging neither God nor the Law was inaction; to allow himself to be executed unjustly rather than commit an act of injustice in ...

Why didn't Socrates write things down?

Back in the day (around 425 B.C.), books were hard to find and tough to afford. Socrates lived in a time when important business was handled through speaking, rather than writing. Some say that Socrates didn't write things down because he was forever asking questions, always learning, and perpetually deepening his viewpoint.

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This is because running to exile would have meant that all that he had done in almost his whole life was useless. All the rules he had set for himself would have been of no use if he was to break them ultimately. The law is to be obeyed whether it favors someone or not and that is exactly the rule that Socrates followed.

Why did Socrates defense fail?

In making his defense, Socrates did not attempt to prove that he was innocent of the charge of disbelief in the Athenian gods. Instead, he addressed himself to the larger implications involved in the so-called crimes of which he had been accused.

Why does Socrates defend himself in court?

In Apology Socrates finds himself in court defending himself for the crime of corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates has many points that he brings up during the hearing in order to prove himself innocent of the claims. In order to prove himself he decides to have a conversation with the lead accuser Meletus.

Did Socrates follow the law?

Abstract: Socrates´ thought of justice and obedience to laws is motivated by a will to avoid the destructive effects of Sophistic criticisms and theories of laws. He thus requires-against theories of natural law-an almost absolute obedience to the law, as far as this law respects the legal system of the city.

Did Socrates give a good defense Why or why not?

His defense is contained in Plato's Apology. In the Apology Socrates first acknowledges that his accusers are persuasive but he is not guilty of the charges they level against him....Success of Socrates' Defense Essay.Reading time4 minDate of Birth470 BC15 more rows•Aug 31, 2021

Does Socrates believe in God?

Did you know? Although he never outright rejected the standard Athenian view of religion, Socrates' beliefs were nonconformist. He often referred to God rather than the gods, and reported being guided by an inner divine voice.Aug 23, 2019

Why was Socrates charged impiety?

He was accused of impiety specifically because the Oracle at Delphi said there was no wiser man in Athens then Socrates, and Socrates knew he was not wise. After hearing that, he questioned every man he met to find a wiser man than he.Sep 16, 2019

Did Socrates think disobeying the law was always right?

It is clear, then, that Socrates never intended to break any laws, and certainty not with any political objectives that King might have envisioned. Therefore, since civil disobedience requires the intentional breaking of law to show the injustice of a law, Socrates could not have acted in civil disobedience.

What did Socrates say about law?

Socrates´ thought of justice and obedience to laws is motivated by a will to avoid the destructive effects of Sophistic criticisms and theories of laws. He thus requires-against theories of natural law-an almost absolute obedience to the law, as far as this law respects the legal system of the city.

Did Socrates believe in natural law?

Socrates (470 – 399 B.C) He was a great admirer of truth and moral values. He argued that like natural physical law, there is a natural moral law. It is because of the 'human insight' that a man has the capacity to distinguish between good and bad is able to appreciate the moral values.

What happened to Socrates accusers?

Blamed for losing Pylos to the Spartans, Anytus faced charges of treason, but was acquitted--with the help of a well-placed jury bribe, according to several accounts. Anytus gained influence in Athens by playing a leading role in the democratic revolt of 403 B.C.E. that succeeded in overthrowing the Thirty Tyrants.

Does Socrates defend himself well?

The Apology was written by Plato, and relates Socrates' defense at his trial on charges of corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates argues that he is innocent of both charges. His defense is ultimately unsuccessful, and he is convicted and sentenced to death.

Why does Meletus contradict himself?

{ 4 } - Showing that Meletus contradicts himself. The contradiction is that in saying that Socrates does not believe in the gods at all (26c), Meletus is contradicting his official charge that Socrates believes in new divinities (26b). The "new divinities" refers to Socrates' divine sign from god (See 31c).

Main points

Socrates obeyed what he regarded as an unjust verdict. Crito offered him an easy escape but instead he went to his legally mandated death despite believing that the conviction and sentence were wrong.* * He makes his case in the Apology.

Legal authority

Socrates’ claim that disobedience would destroy the laws is silly. Therefore, so his is claim that doing so would involve an intention to destroy the laws.

Socrates on legal obligation

Socrates’s understanding of legal obligation rests a lot on analogies with personal morality. He holds that there are two reasons why we are obliged to obey the laws.

King on civil disobedience

King thought that at least some kinds of disobedience in some circumstances could improve the laws rather than harming them.

Who was Plato's teacher?

Plato, student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, shared perspective on his teacher in several works, including the four dialogues of The Trial and Death of Socrates. Plato was able to create a Socrates of his own design, according to interpretation and imagination.

Was Socrates wise?

After all, he was supposed to be so intelligent and wise. In a nutshell, nobody knows for sure. We can make educated guesses, based on what we believe about the culture and customs of ancient Greece. Socrates' students also slipped us clues as they portrayed the famous philosopher in their own writings.

Why does John go along with the execution?

Along with the other reasons for his words he goes along with the execution to keep what’s left of him untarnished. or pure in the way he never was. The next character that has actions for the sole purpose of their self preservation is Reverend Samuel Parris. Throughout the majority of the crucible parris is shown to only care about his power and his image towards the other people of salem.

Why did Private Doss refuse to take a gun into combat?

Private Doss was called a conscientious cooperator, meaning that he knew what he was doing, however, he continued to do it because he believed that what he was doing was right. Also, due to his past experiences, refusal of a weapon meant not killing anyone. One thing he said was, “With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such a bad thing to me to wanna put a little bit of it back together” in which he was talking about how his desire was to save those people fighting for him and even some of the people that were trying to kill him. (Gibson) This leads to another good quality which is desire to want to see change, but not just any change.

What did Gandhi say about civil disobedience?

When Gandhi says “But so long as there is yet life in these our bones, we will never comply with your arbitrary laws.” he is saying that as long as I have life I will never loose hope and abide by your unjust laws . This made people change the way they view hope, and they realized that hope can even be a type of courage. This relates to Civil Disobedience because in the text Thoreau has the hope that people will not do something if they think it is unnecessary or unjust.

Did Socrates know anything?

In spite of this claim, Socrates was truly only showing the court that he really did not know much more than his name. He was proving this because throughout his speech, he made it seem like the idea of knowing the truth and having real knowledge about a subject wasn’t needed in order to achieve the goal of persuasion. In Socrates’ speech he stated, “...if I say that the unexamined life is not worth living, you’ll believe me even less...you think I’ve been convicted for lack of arguments that would have persuaded you…” Socrates never specified or went into details about his beliefs that he was presenting to the court which, revealed to them that he did not know anything. He wasn’t able to strengthen his claims by providing evidence meaning his use of logos was faulty. However, Socrates’ goal was not to gather evidence to make it seem as if he was putting all his efforts in saving his life.

Why was Socrates so unpopular?

In Plato’s Apology, the charges brought against Socrates show the main reasons for his unpopularity in Athens: Socrates is guilty of criminal meddling, in that he inquires into things below the earth and in the sky, and makes the weaker argument defeat the stronger, and teaches others to follow his example. His bad reputation spread throughout ...

Who is the wisest man in Athens?

Socrates sets out to investigate the Delphic oracle’s claim that he is the wisest man in Athens, as he finds it difficult to believe. He questions (using his method of ‘Elenchus’) those considered to be the wisest men in Athenian society: politicians, poets, dramatists, lyricists, and craftsmen.

Was Socrates a sophist?

Socrates strongly denied being a sophist on the grounds that he did not charge a fee for his sermons. On the contrary he claims: My service to God has reduced me to extreme poverty. His intentions appear sincere when addressing the youth of Athens, as he sees it as his religious duty.

Main Points

Legal Authority

Socrates on Legal Obligation

• Socrates’s understanding of legal obligation rests a lot on analogies with personal morality. He holds that there are two reasons why we are obliged to obey the laws. 1. Gratitude: the laws play a role for us like the role played by people to whom we are obliged to be grateful. 2. Contract: Socrates agreed to obey the laws. We pushed on the strengt...

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King on Civil Disobedience