Sabrina Martinez
Posted Date:
February 13, 2023 6:32 PM
Status:
Published
Socrates was found guilty of corrupting the young because it was believed, and there was much evidence to support the notion, that he was eroding their trust in the Athenian democracy. Socrates student and relative Plato was the deadliest ruler Athens had ever known: Critias. By this, Aeschines was implying that Critias, a tyrant who terrified Athens in 404 B.C. Under the rule of the Thirty Tyrants and only 5 years prior to the schedule trial of Socrates, was molded in part by the antidemocratic doctrines of Socrates. Among the Thirty, it seems that Critias had the greatest influence.
Neither the Democratic Party nor the moderate opposition were able to banish Socrates. While his principal accuser, Anytus, lost most of his property when he left and joined the war to rescue the city, he himself sufffered no ill effects at the hands of the Thirty Tyrants. Socrates calls himself “the gadfly” of Athens in Plato’s “Apology,” yet his sting appears to have been lacking at a time when Athens most needed it
Socrates claim that he disobeyed the command and should have been executed for it if the government hadn’t been overthrown so fast. But he did nothing to stop it, warn the victim, or voice his disapproval. Despite his constant preaching of virtue, he never publicly held such unvirtuous rulers accountable as the Hebrew prophets did.
Reference
Stone, I.F. (1979,April 8). I.F. STONE BREAKS THE SOCRATES STORY . The New York Times.
https://www.Nytimes.com/1979/04/08archives/if-stone-breaks-the-socrates-story-an-old-muckraker-sheds-fresh.html
Alecia Gordon
Posted Date:
February 12, 2023 11:05 AM
Status:
Published
In the Hughes, Stone, and Critias material, there were a few things that I hadn’t seen before or that startled me. I was shocked to find that Socrates wasn’t always a proponent of democracy, to start with. In reality, Socrates appears to be extremely skeptical of democracy and its propensity for corruption in the Critias conversation. I had always thought of Socrates as being a staunch advocate for democracy, so this slightly muddies my perception of him. But it is evident that Socrates was open to the idea of other systems of rule, including oligarchy, if he thought they would benefit the Athenians. The fact that the Stone was truly a slab of stone that was utilized as a site for swearing vows in ancient Athens also astonished me. The Stone, to me, had long represented the cornerstone of democracy. I was shocked to see that the Critias dialogue was truly incomplete at this point. Given that I had previously believed the Critias discourse to be a full piece, this information slightly confounds how I interpret it.
The many points of view of various individuals confuse Socrates and Athenian democracy. While some see Socrates as having a bad impact on democracy, others see him as having a favorable influence. On Socrates and the Athenian democracy, various people hold varying opinions. While some see Socrates as having a bad impact on democracy, others see him as having a favorable influence. Our understanding of Socrates and the Athenian democracy is complicated by this.
Critias was a prominent figure in Athens during the 5th century BCE. He was born into a wealthy and influential family and was well-educated. Critias was known for his intellectual pursuits and was a noted poet, philosopher, and politician. He was also a close associate of the philosopher Socrates. Critias played a major role in the political and intellectual life of Athens. He was a member of the Thirty Tyrants, a group of oligarchs who seized control of Athens after the defeat of the city-state in the Peloponnesian War. The Thirty Tyrants were responsible for a period of extreme repression and terror, during which many citizens of Athens were executed or exiled. Critias was one of the most prominent members of the Thirty Tyrants, and was known for his cruelty and ruthless behavior. He was involved in the execution of many Athenian citizens and was responsible for the confiscation of their property. Despite his brutal reputation, Critias was also known for his intelligence and was considered a talented speaker. Critias’ connection to Socrates was complex. On one hand, Socrates was known for his opposition to the Thirty Tyrants and their regime of terror, and it is likely that he was critical of Critias’ actions. On the other hand, Critias was a close associate of Socrates and was one of his students. The two men were reportedly friends and were known to have engaged in philosophical discussions and debates.
The relationship between Socrates and Critias also sheds light on the role of philosophy in the ancient world. While philosophy was seen as a way to understand and improve the world, it was also seen as a threat to the established order. Socrates was put on trial for impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens, and it is likely that his philosophical teachings and his close association with Critias were seen as a threat to the political establishment. The events of Critias’ life and his impact on Socrates also illustrate the dangers of political power and the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs and values. Despite his close relationship with Critias, Socrates chose to stand up for his beliefs and was willing to pay the ultimate price for his commitment to truth and justice. After Socrates’ death, Critias continued to play a prominent role in the political and intellectual life of Athens. He was involved in several failed attempts to restore the power of the Thirty Tyrants, and was eventually exiled from the city-state. Despite his controversial reputation, Critias remained a respected figure in the world of philosophy, and his works and ideas continued to influence later generations of thinkers.
References
YouTube. (2018, January 22). Athens: The Truth About Democracy (complete). YouTube. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDiO_zQv0Ww
I. F. Stone Interviewed aboout the Trial of Socrates
Internet encyclopedia of philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://iep.utm.edu/critias/
Joseph Volpi
Posted Date:
February 8, 2023 11:52 AM
Status:
Published
It surprised me how Socrates reacted in the interview and what actions he chose to take after hearing it as well. It also was surprising to me to see how stone breaks down each question as a whole. It complicates the view of seeing it as a democracy and not anything more serious than that to me. I always thought Socrates had a view that common people were not as “good” as others and that view was conveyed through the article as well.
