Socrates

469 b.c.e.–399 b.c.e.

Philosopher
Teacher

Importance to Greek Religion.

Socrates is more important for his contribution to philosophy than religion. Nonetheless, he was important as a catalyst in Athenian intellectual life of the fifth century b.c.e., and the questioning of conventional attitudes which he helped to initiate spilled over into religious thought. In 399 b.c.e. he was tried before a popular jury of 501 jurymen on a charge of not recognizing the gods whom the state recognized, introducing other new gods, and corrupting the young. There are two surviving accounts of his Apology, that is, his speech in his own defense: one by his disciple Plato and a second by another of his followers, Xenophon. They are quite different and neither has a great claim to accuracy. It is not clear what new gods Socrates introduced, and his accusers seem to have concentrated on the charge that Socrates corrupted the young.

Questioned Conventional Views.

It is true that Socrates questioned conventional views of Greek religion. In one of Plato's early dialogues, the Euthyphro, Socrates demonstrated that the Olympian gods could not be taken as models of morality or virtue. He himself, however, was scrupulous in his religious observances. His final words before his death were a reminder that he owed a cock to the god Asclepius. Apparently he had promised to sacrifice a cock at the temple of Asclepius on the south slope of the Athenian Acropolis, and he wanted his vow carried out.

The Trial of Socrates.

Socrates was convicted at his trial by a vote of 281 out of 501 jurymen. His prosecutors suggested the death penalty, and Socrates then had a chance to suggest an alternative punishment. Socrates at first suggested facetiously that he be given meals at state expense for the rest of his life, but, at the urging of his friends, he suggested a modest fine. The jury was clearly annoyed by Socrates' attitude and opted for the death penalty by a greater majority than had found him guilty in the first place.

sources

Thomas C. Brickhouse and Nicholas D. Smith, The Trial and Execution of Socrates: Sources and Controversies (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2002).

Mark L. McPherron, The Religion of Socrates (University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania University Press, 1996).

I. F. Stone, The Trial of Socrates (Boston: Little Brown, 1988).