The Apology Of Socrates: A Closer Examination

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believe it or if not be able to reject the idea. (Nussbaum, pg. 16).
Three men brought Socrates to trial: Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon. Together they represented the "old school" that was frightened and angered by Socrates philosophies. At the beginning of the text they have finished with their prosecution and Socrates is beginning his defense.
The first step Socrates takes is to prove quite a peculiar point, that he does not possess any knowledge. While at first glance this sounds oxymoronic, but Socrates eloquently proves his point. He tells how his friend Chairephon visited the god at Delphi. There Chairephon asked the god if any man was wiser then Socrates and the god testified that there was not anyone wiser then Socrates. Socrates tells of how after hearing this he went to a courtyard and question a Sophist (a hired debater) and learns that, similar to a modern day lawyer having to defend a position that is unpopular and often in conflict with his own beliefs, the Sophist ...

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to justify that he never corrupted the young. Socrates questions Meletus that he alone is the only one to corrupt the young, which Meletus answers yes. Socrates then analogizes this to horses. Socrates states that it is not the horse breeders that corrupt horses, but the majority. The horse breeders try to improve horses, while many others are involved in corrupting the horses. Thus it is not the few who try to improve the young that corrupts them but the fast majority of other people (Apology of Socrates, pg. 33)
In a similar way, he uses this Socratic reasoning to prove his belief in gods. Socrates begins by questioning Meletus that if a person believes in spiritual signs, they ...

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