Why Socrates Was Killed

Why was Socrates killed?

Socrates, the greatest philosopher of all time, was actually the most hated man in Athens.

He was accused of cruelty and corruption of the youth.

The popular court, Elias, sentenced him to death.

Socrates, the most brilliant mind in history, died by drinking the poison hemlock.

But why was he killed?

Socrates apparently did nothing terrible.

He simply asked questions of the people, spoke to anyone with aristocrats, with common citizens, with young people... He conversed. He taught them.

But his questions, by their sincerity, by their simplicity, shattered the certainties of his interlocutors, forced them to confront the emptiness of their own certainties, the incoherence of their logic.

Socrates taught us to doubt.

It is said that Socrates was a character who was too embarrassed by the doubts he raised.

He had the courage to expose and expose corrupt politicians and false teachers who stood for false truths and false knowledge.

For this, he was sentenced to death. Socrates's opponents saw him as a threat to the status quo, a danger that needed to be removed.

During his trial in Athens, Socrates refused to repent of the charges brought against him or ask for mercy.

He also refused to enlist the support of an orator in his favor.

Intelligence is difficult, and this is what their trial against Socrates teaches us.

People want illusions, not truths. They want to be praised and live happily in ignorance.

Awakened people make that foundation uncomfortable.

That is why they are banned, ostracized, and condemned, because they disturb the sleep of the people, because they question authority, because they expose the frauds of institutions.

This society needs Socrates. Yes, it needs him, but not those who take doubt as the reason and drown in it.