o punish his sons, and provide guidance. If so, then hewill have received justice. "We go our ways: me to die, you to live; onlyGod knows which is better." ANALYSIS Throughout the Apology, Socrates believes himself to be a “teacher,"though he does not say that of himself. He finds reputed wise men andquestions them. If Socrates finds that they believe themselves to be wiserthan they really are, he points out their mistake, thus educates them andhimself. This allows Socrates to learn when he finds other people whoknow more about a subject than he. Socrates tells the judges that he willnot be found guilty because of “evidence” and testimony; if he is foundguilty, it will be because of the reputation that he has obtained. AsSocrates deals with the charges, he is constantly talking about himself. IfSocrates wanted to appease the judges so that he would not be foundguilty, he could have made up or omit the parts about himself that causedso much trouble. The fact that Socrates knows that he is being persecutedfor who he is and that he honestly describes himself, shows that he isstaying true to himself and his beliefs through his trial. Through reason,Socrates is constantly searching for the truth of what others think. WhenMeletus accuses Socrates of not believing in any gods, Socrates then usesreason to refute him. Socrates tells a story about an oracle, which hestates that he believes in, and says that since an oracle is a divine thing hemust believe in divinities. Socrates used reason to question Meletus andled him to state inconsistent statements: (1) Socrates corrupts the youthintentionally. (2) Nobody intentionally harms himself. (3) People whocorrupt society ultimately harm themselves. If (1) Socrates corrupts theyouth intentionally and (3) people who corrupt society ultimately harmthemselves, then (2) must be false. However, if (2) nobody intentionallyharms themselves and (3) people who corrupt society ultimate...
