Did Socrates Deserve to Die?

In contemporary culture Socrates is hailed as being a philosophical hero. A man who has given major insight into modern democracy and the way the world should run. Perhaps most notable is what people refer to Elenchus or rather the Socratic method in which questions are repeatedly asked about any issued statement. Ultimately it is speculated that Socrates is a fictional character written in by Plato in many literary works. The first question primarily revolves around whether or not Socrates deserves to be hailed as this important figure in modern philosophy. A number of more entertaining and affirmative characters such as Thrasymachus are introduced in the writing who appear to have more definitive opinions than Socrates. In the end it remains speculative as to why we as a society cherish Socrates above all other philosophers.

The second question is whether or not Socrates deserved to die. In "The Republic" we all know that Socrates died of Hemlock poisoning for his "revolutionary" opinions. But what is not focused on is the actual trial. Socrates was presented with the charge of corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates begins his defense by stating that instead of receiving capital punishment, they should be debating provisions to treat him like a hero. Socrates basically states that he should be treated like an Olympian: nourished with food for the rest of his life and the best lodgings. This is hardly the ideal defense expected from a man who stands to die for his actions. The jury composed of some 500-600 individuals judge Socrates in two phases. The first phase being the innocence vs guilt and the second phase being his punishment. It remains interesting on many parts who served as jurors and the method in which the trial was held.

When Socrates is acquitted and sentenced to die, his philosopher friends come to break him out of jail. Socrates refused indicating his obedient defiance within the realm of the law. Socrates never broke a specific statute or law by spreading his opinions in forums. Instead his free speech was strictly within the realm of the rules despite begging to question how Athens was run. As per nature Socrates himself drank the hemlock and thus killed himself. In your opinion, did Socrates deserve to die?

Socrates died according to his thoughts in the mindset of that era, meaning that it's difficult to say that our ethical or moral valorations are the same or run by the same principles as back then. In Plato's dialogues, you never get to know what the reasons were for accusing Socrates with the charge of corrupting the youth and impiety, so it's hard to tell whether the jury had good reasons or not.

Actually, Socrates defended himself saying that because he lives in that world, he has no reason to corrupt the youth, because then he would also be corrupting the world he lives in and making it worse for himself. Hardly a good defense either, but very existentialist in nature.

Socrates did not deserve to die. However, he didn't care because he speculated there were three possibilities: 1) His soul becomes pure and absolute and he'll gain all the knowledge he seeks to desire based on his findings on Earth, 2) Greek religion were true and he'd end up in a decent afterlife for being a decent man while on Earth, 3) he'll have eternal sleep, nothingness. Also, by dying for his beliefs, he martyred himself in a way that clearly worked, since his works and ideas are still remembered today.

Actually, Socrates defended himself saying that because he lives in that world, he has no reason to corrupt the youth, because then he would also be corrupting the world he lives in and making it worse for himself. Hardly a good defense either, but very existentialist in nature.

Socrates did a lot of things. The below quotation defends my initial explanation. I remember what you stated from my last reading of The Republic.

After the vote on Socrates' guilt, Socrates and his prosecutor suggested alternative sentences. Socrates, after expressing his surprise of the little amount he needed to be found guilty, jokingly suggested free meals at the Prytaneum, a particular honor held for city benefactors and winners at the Olympic Games, then offered to pay a fine of 100 drachmae, which was a fifth of his property and a testament to Socrates' poverty. Finally he settled on the sum of 3000 drachmae, put forward by Plato, Crito, Critobulus, and Apollodorus, who guaranteed the payment. His prosecutor proposed the death penalty.

Socrates did not deserve to die. However, he didn't care because he speculated there were three possibilities: 1) His soul becomes pure and absolute and he'll gain all the knowledge he seeks to desire based on his findings on Earth, 2) Greek religion were true and he'd end up in a decent afterlife for being a decent man while on Earth, 3) he'll have eternal sleep, nothingness. Also, by dying for his beliefs, he martyred himself in a way that clearly worked, since his works and ideas are still remembered today.

It seems that Socrates was confused about what he really wanted out of life. Having eternal sleep would result in the inability of having an afterlife and obtaining knowledge. In addition he didn't help himself by providing the jury an alternative punishment that wasn't condusive to the crime and punishment which he should have expected. From a certain perspective, it's as if Socrates made an ass of himself instead of being modest and apologetic for his actions. Harrison what were Socrates's main works and ideas?