Socrates lived a life of figuring out the way things worked and

what the true meaning of life and our spirits within us were. As a juror
in the case against Socrates, I believe he was not guilty but rather a
wise man of the wisest.

Socrates is definitely not guilty from a clear viewpoint in todays

society, how could he be if he is not paid for his so called teachings.
Also, he is simply just wiser than the rest of his kind, regardless of his
wealth standpoint, because he simply has none. Finally he goes about
his actions because he is following the beliefs in his Gods. These
reasons are all reasons to make me as a juror believe, that he is not
guilty.

Firstly, Socrates makes it very clear during his trial statement

that he is not a teacher, as he does not receive any greater wealth or
outcome from his so called students or brainwashed youth. In this
trial his testifier better known as Meletus accuses him of
brainwashing the young in the city of Athelens by getting inside their
heads and teaching them concepts of his ways and learnings. Socrates
makes a very valid rebuttal by arguing for his sake that he does not
receive any fee paid in his name to educate these people, when he
states during the trial The fact is that there is nothing in any of these
charges; and if you have heard anyone say that I try to educate people

and charge a fee, there is no truth in that either. (Page 40, line 20a).
Also, Socrates makes it clear to the jurors that he cannot teach anyone
or the young, he can only make them think. Throughout Socrates
lifetime he has not been teaching these people he interacts with, but
rather making them think about things in life which actually matter
when it comes down to wisdom and knowledge within ones soul.
Socrates once again comes up with a valid rebuttal toward his accuser
Meletus when he quotes to the court However I invite you to tell us
Meletus, in what sense you make out that I corrupt the minds of the
young. Surely the terms of your indictment make it clear that you try to
accuse me of teaching them to believe in new deities instead of the
Gods recognized by the state; isnt that the teaching of mine which
you has this demoralizing effect? (Page 48, line 26b). Lastly, when it
comes to Socrates proving the jurors wrong and for the fact that he is
rather not a teacher is when he compares himself to a similar man of
great wisdom and knowledge known as Evenus of Paros whom in fact
does charge a fee to the people for his teachings who come upon him
for his knowledge and wisdom. Socrates makes this very clear when he
quotes from his conversation with one of the wisest amongst wisest,
Callias, the son of Hipponicus If your sons had been colts or calves,
we should have had no difficulty in finding and engaging a trainer to
make them excel in the appropriate qualities; and this trainer would
have been some sort of horse dealer or agriculturist. But their

instructor? Who is the expert in perfecting the virtues of people in a

society? I assume from the fact of your having sons that you must
have considered the question. Is there such a person or not?
Certainly, said he. Who is he, and where does he come from? said
I, and what does he charge? Evenus of Paros, Socrates, said he,
and his fee is 500 drachmae. (Page 40, line 20b). Socrates clearly
makes a very similar comparison of himself to Evenus of Paros, stating
the facts that he is not a teacher and is not paid, and that Evenus of
Paros is a teacher and is receiving a fee for his doings.

Secondly, Socrates is not guilty for the reason that regardless of

his wealth and age he is still the wisest amongst the wisest of men in
society. Socrates elaborates during his trial that he occupies his time in
doing the things, which he does for the sake of making people find out
the true meaning of life within their souls by making them think deeper
in philosophy by sharing with these people the Gods wisdom. Socrates
makes it evident that there is no cash value or any value for that
matter of human wisdom. He proves this easily in my eyes, when he
quotes to the jurors But the truth of the matter, gentlemen is likely to
be this: that the real wisdom is the property of God, and this oracle is
his way of telling us that human wisdom has little or no value. (Page
44, line 23a). Next, Socrates proves to the court that his wealth is not
of importance to his needs and states that he would rather be poor and

happy with the soul within himself then be of the riches and not know
the true meaning of life within thyself. Socrates goes off to the
members of the jurors of the court also about how he is satisfied with
the life he lives everyday and that he is too busy to engage in either
politics or his own personal life. Socrates quotes this to the court when
he states This occupation has kept me too busy to do much either in
politics or in my own affairs; in fact my service tot God has reduced me
to extreme poverty. (Page 44, line 23c). Socrates is simply not
engaged in wealth nor worried like others in society, which keeps him
unworried about not being happy, and understanding what life actually
means.

Third, Socrates is not guilty in a court trial because he does what

he does to follow his beliefs in the Gods. Socrates does not go around
testifying peoples knowledge and wisdom for his own sake or
popularity. Socrates is very clear that it is not of matter to him weather
people enjoy his company or like him, but rather he is just putting his
beliefs and the Gods beliefs first. He is trying to find the meaning in
which life has to it by interviewing these people, which thought they
were wise, but in reality was not. Socrates proves all this when he
quotes I realized with distress and alarm that I was making myself
unpopular, but I felt compelled to put the Gods business first; since I
was trying to find the meaning of the oracle, I was bound to interview

everyone who had a reputation for knowledge. (Page 42, line 22a).
Next, when the jurors of the court found him guilty and sentenced him
to death, Socrates stood his ground and showed them that he is a man
of great wisdom and knowledge who only spoke the truth, defending
his Gods and beliefs. Socrates would much rather die in the defense of
what he believes, knowing that he was pure and true to his thoughts
and beliefs then be sentenced to sit in a jail cell or banished and never
heard of again. He wanted and did stand for what he believed was
right, through to his death proving that he would not be embarrassed
by the people of the court. Socrates proves his statements when he
quotes But I did not think then that I ought to stoop to servility
because I was in danger, and I do not regret how I pleaded my case; I
would much rather die as a result of this defense then live as a result
of the other sort. (Page 64, line 38e). Socrates proves to the court that
he stands for what he believes in, and is doing what he has in action
from command of the Gods.

In conclusion, standing from the prospective of being a juror in

the case against Socrates, Socrates is not guilty for many reasons.
Socrates could not be guilty considering the accusers justified him as
being a teacher when he isnt even paid his learnings, therefore he
should be considered a tribute toward society in the Greek culture.
Secondly, Socrates has no high standard income, which is wealthy from

societys view so therefore he is just a wise man who is wiser then the
rest sharing his knowledge with the people of Athelens. Last but not
least Socrates has done what he has not for his own sake but to follow
the commands of his God and beliefs, proving he would much rather be
put to death in honor of what he believes in. Socrates was simply the
wisest of the wisest men living in his time and city Athelens which he
honored very much, therefore Socrates is not guilty in this testimony
brought against his name.