Socrates and Plato essays

Socrates and Plato essays Socrates was a common Athenian whose father was a stonecutter and mother a midwife. (Jowett, 7) Plato was an Athenian aristocrat who early in life came under the influence of Socrates. He wrote more than twenty dialogues, many of which feature his teacher and hero, Socrates. (Jowett, 7) Socrates left no writings and most of what we know about him was left by Plato. One of the most famous pieces that were left by Plato was the Court of Justice hearing with Socrates vs. Meletus. Meletus proclaims in this hearing that Socrates is a bad Athenian and that he also has been corrupting the young. He also states that Socrates is a complete Atheist and does not believe in the gods at all. Socrates seems like a very smart individual during this hearing as he makes Meletus contradict himself over and over throughout the hearing. The questions that Socrates asks are very straight forward and Meletus has a hard time answering them because it seems as if he knows that Socrates is trying to make him answer easy questions first, and have a spin-off of the same question, but in different context, and he knows that his answer will probably differ from is original answer. This does happen, and throughout most of the trial Socrates makes Meletus look very foolish to the judges. Then he quits asking questions to Meletus and starts deliberating his case to the judges and to the audience. His points throughout his deliberation are very simple and quite mind boggling. He points out that people delight in spending time with him, because he point out the people that believe they are wise and in actuality are not. He also states that he never gives advice publicly or at an assembly advising the state, but gives it privately while peddling around mingling with young scholars. He also points out that he is not trying to make the judges and audience feel guilty by bringing his family and kids to the hearing because ...