The Apology

In any case of law, when considering truth and justice, one must first look at the validity of the court and the system itself.  In Socrates' case, the situation is no different.  One may be said to be guilty or innocent of any crime, but guilt or innocence is only as valid as the court it is subjected to.  Therefore, in considering whether Socrates is guilty or not, it must be kept in mind the norms and standards of Athens at that time, and the validity of his accusers and the crimes he allegedly committed.  Is Socrates guilty or innocence of his accusations?    
        What exactly is Socrates being accused of?  "Socrates is guilty of engaging in inquiries into things beneath the earth and in the heavens, of making the weaker argument appear the stronger, and of teaching others these same things" (29).  Socrates is charged with impiety, a person who does not believe in the gods of Athens.  Socrates defends this charge, claiming that he was propositioned by the gods through the Oracle of Delphi, to question people's wisdom.  He states, "...but when god stationed me, as I supposed and assumed, ordering me to live philosophizing and examining myself and others...that my whole care is to commit no unjust or impious deed."  By claiming that defense, Socrates manages to sway Meletus toward his point.  This point being that Socrates cannot both be atheistic and to believe in demons, for this would contradict his not believing in gods at all, since demons are considered to be demi-gods.    Socrates is accused of not respecting those of authority !
and those with reputations of being wise, and protraying his role in life as to question these fiqures in their wisdom, and to disprove that they are knowledgeable and wise.  Socrates says, "...and this is what will cause my condemnation if I am condemned;  not Meletus of Antyus either, but that prejudice and resentment of the multitude which have been the destruction of many good men before me, and I think will be so again.  There is no prospect that I shall be the last victim" (34).  Socrates implies that the true nature of this charge was, in fact, vengeance carried out on the part of the power-holders of the Athenian society; the politicians, the poets, the manual artisans.  Socrates, unwillingly made fools out of these people by exposing their speeches as mere rhetoric than actual wisdom and knowledge.  These men who were seen as the wisest and the most enlightened, but in fact, by believing that they are most knowledgeble is what keeps them from real wisdom.  Socrates !
is also being charged with attacking the Athenian society by corrupting its citizens, mainly the youth.  He defends himself by claiming that either Meletus beleives that Socrates does not corrupt the youth or he does corrupt them but involuntarily.  Socrates bring to light that "if I corrupt them voluntarily, the law does not call upon you to procecute me for an error which is involuntary, but to take me aside privately and reprove and educate me" (33).  Socrates goes on further to say that if he was doing something involuntarily that was wrong, as soon as he noticed his wrong doing he would stop immediately.
        Socrates spoke on his own defense with the understanding that whatever he has been accused of, is not a crime.  Socrates speaks:  
Athenians I hold you in the highest regard and affection, but I will be persuaded by the god rather than you.  As long as I have breath and strength I will not give up philosophy and exhorting you and declaring the truth to every one of you whom I meet...(35). 
Socrates was found guilty by 281 votes to 220 and condemned to death.  He states that "...if death is a journey to another place, and what we are told is true--that all who have died are there--what good could be greater than this..." (40).  Socrates takes his accusers and his condemnation as a blessing from the gods.  He says that '...no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death'.
        Was Socrates guilty of his accusations?  His accusers and judges of Athens thought it to be true.  Socrates stated that any other court would have held his trial more than one day, with such consequences awaiting, he might have been able to convince the jury of his innocence.  The Apology, was the trial of Socrates becoming a victim of the wealthy elite in Athenian society, who did not want their hold on the power and minds on Athens to be tamper with.  If justice is to be questioned, I believe Socrates should have been found innocent since no real crimes were committed.  Overall, it cannot be denied that Socrates suffered a great injustice by being found guilty or being put on trial at all.  The true substance of the crime was never a criminal matter nor a strain on the Athenian society, but a challenge to an oppressive and aristocracy ruling class.  Socrates became a symbol of true wisdom and knowledge, a symbol that needed to be disposed of for the elites to remain the p!
ower holders in society.