The Trial and Death of Socrates

The trial of Socrates is one of the most famous trials of all time. He was accused of two acts of impiety: ?failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges? and ?introducing new deities.? Following the customs of Athenian democracy, he was tried by 501 citizens, found guilty, and sentenced to death by drinking a hemlock-laced liquid. The reasons for this conviction are still unclear. Athens had just regained its democracy after a harsh period of rule by a group of dictators, one of whom was a former student of Socrates. Plato also credits Aristophanes? play The Clouds and Socrates? scathing social criticism as influential in turning the crowd against him. This book contains several important dialogues revolving around the trial and its aftermath. In ?The Apology,? Plato records Socrates? speech in his own defense at the trial. ?Crito? occurs after Socrates? sentencing, when a wealthy friend offers to buy Socrates out of prison. This book also includes the dialogues ?Euthyphron? and ?Phaedo.?