How Socrates "Corrupted the youth of Athens.
Socrates was a Greek Philosopher who would initiate a question-answer method of teaching, as a means of achieving self knowledge. Socrates did not write any books about himself or his teachings, but he had a dedicated student by the name of Plato. Plato wrote about Socrates theories of virtue, love and justice. Socrates was put on trial for "Corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens, and was eventually put to death in 399 b.c. .
Socrates was a very social person, he believed in argument over writing, so he would spent a great deal of his time in the market place and public areas of Athens. He would have conversations or argue his opinion with anyone who was willing to listen, the self knowledge that he inculcated were basis for his teachings. He was also a very religious individual. While Socrates were in these public areas in conversations he drew attention of other people especially the young people, who have a lot of time on their hands, some of them were sometimes sons of the rich people within the area. .
The young people became interested in Socrates conversations and would listen to people being examined, they would also imitate Socrates and cross- examine others. In Socrates opinion the people that the young have examine became very angry with him and began to retaliate. Probably in those days they felt with age comes experience and they felt belittled when they were question by the young when they realized what little knowledge they knew. The people of Athens did not try to educate themselves in stead they look for some one to blame and that person was Socrates, he was accused of being some sort of criminal and that he was a bad influence on the young. He was later charged for neglecting the Gods of the state and introducing new divinities (inner voice) He was also charged with corrupting the morals of the young leading them away from the principles of democracy.
