Athens held the trial of Socrates to determine whether he was indeed guilty of asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of the city and the corruption of youth. If Plato’s account of Socrates’ life in Apology is historically accurate, then it is safe to assume that Socrates shied away from religious convention radically reconceived piety. The philosopher did not fear gods because of his steadfast conviction that he was a good man and this goodness could not be taken away from him. This self-perception largely stems from one of the “building blocks” of his thought – questioning everything. It was through acknowledging his ignorance and relentless self-examination that he could become virtuous and immune to human judgment. When referring to himself and others, Socrates was quick to admit that “neither of [them] probably [knew] anything that [was] really good (Plato 20).” The philosopher’s audacity and lack of reverence before the authority only field Athens’ antagonism.
Works Cited
Plato. Apology. 2019, BookRix.