Between Philosophers and City-state-The Charges against Socrates and His Defense

Abstract

In the year 300 BC, Socrates, as a philosopher and Athenian citizen, was charged by the court of Athens with the crime of “impiety” and “corrupting the youth”. During the court session, Socrates tried his best to defend himself but still could not change his fate-Socrates was sentenced to death. Such charges against Socrates and his defense reflect city-state’s fundamental doubts about Socrates and the huge tension between philosophical life and city-state life, which can also be reflected in The Apology of Socrates by Plato and Memorabilia by Xenophon. For this discrepancy between two lifestyles, the city-state chose to expel or execute the philosopher who started to despise the city-state. However, Socrates who had always lived between the city-state and philosophers still believed that philosophers were responsible for the city-state and the city-state should also openly take opinions from philosophers - the conflict between philosophers and the city-state is reconcilable.