In his variant of the Apology Xenophon raises the question of Socrates atheism. The writer wonders how did the jury manage to persuade the dwellers of Athens that Socrates was one while he was constantly seen sacrificing at home and on the common altars of the city. Xenophon remarks, “It was evident that Socrates worshipped the Gods the most of all men.” Many times in his defense Socrates mentions of the jury and accusers as of younger generation. We must remember that in those days it was not usual for people to live up to seventy years (like Socrates at the time of this court), and an average life span of people was close to 35 years. The philosopher stresses on the fact that most of the people present do not know him by his deeds, only by the reputation that circulates in the society.
How can people who have not lived even half of what Socrates had judge one? Also Socrates mentions that court considers some of the “Lying accusations” that have been made against him many years ago, and which he never bothered to respond to. Therefore by most the court is judging the philosopher of his past. Often the prosecutors accuse Socrates of Sophism. Socrates rejects the prosecution with the following statement: … talking a lot of other nonsense about things of which I know nothing at all.” This is a fundamental feature of the Apology: his accusers attribute all sorts of ideas and attitudes to Socrates that have nothing to do with him. Later on Socrates gives a very distinct feature that separates him from Sophists – “charge a fee…
.” The philosopher has never been that concerned with money as Sophists were. Quite the contrary Socrates claims that his mission is in service to God. This is to condemn people’s pursuit of money, honor, and reputation, while ignoring wisdom, truth, and the improvement of the soul. In his speech Socrates ignores his own well being he views the trial as another opportunity to strengthen his spiritual powers and freedom. He tells the jury about their responsibility to ignore the appeals to pity and judge the truth. I think the jury was waiting to hear that and eventually sentenced Socrates to death but the philosopher replies that it is not of a threat to him, he argues that death might be good: either it will be a dreamless sleep, or he will travel to the place of the dead where he can question anyone and not be executed for it.
He states: “No evil can happen to a good man.” As for me, I think the only way for Socrates to avoid being sentenced to death would be through lying and accompanying the court. Of course I would recommend Socrates to be a little more self-restrained when it comes to speaking of his opinion about others. But it would involve r enunciating the ideas and postulates that the philosopher popularized during his life. Till the very end of his days Socrates followed the principles of staying true to oneself and beliefs, and searching for truth by way of reason.
I am sure that Socrates Apology was the farewell gift that philosopher presented to the society. In his defense speech he proclaimed it as a lesson to us all: by killing of a wise and noble man, it is the society that suffers the most by depriving itself of the stimulating force of seeking, critical, and disturbingly thinking mind. Socrates has intentionally come to the trial unarmed, he was not thinking of his salvation. He has already lived a full and wonderful life, and was thinking of the final masterpiece of philosophical reasoning and argumentation to give to people. And of course it would be impolite to prevent the person from achieving that goal..