" (23b). Socrates lived a life where the ultimate purpose was to serve the quest of betterment and to debate with his fellow citizens about the questions of life. Therefore, he did not have the time to worry himself about his social status and in turn in no way did anything to improve it. Socrates shows this because he professes he is not like the other men of his profession who collect fees. He proclaims that teaches for the spread of knowledge, not the betterment of society or wealth. He could not be seen as meeting the criteria for democratic citizenship precisely because as with the other principles, he did not see the thoughtless process of social promotion and social improvement in the eyes of the state would bring him closer to the answer of life's questions.Perhaps one of the best ways to test the theories of Pericles' persuasive argument put forth here and look at their validity is to find the true answer to whether or not Socrates was a model of democratic citizenship in line with Athens' definition of a good citizen, a patriot. It is this question in which the issue becomes more complicated because Socrates shows signs of being a patriot and being against the notion at the same time. Those who claim that Socrates is a patriot and therefore a good model of citizenship argue that he loves the law and will not beg for his life because he believes the city's honor to be at stake and he would not tarnish that by begging. They wonder why would a man who was not a good model for citizenship fight for the virtue of its citizens. However, on the other side of the argument are those who argue that Socrates stands outside of politics because he chose to not participate in the political process or in office. Others would contest that he held a questionable opinion about the majority because they could cause as much trouble as a group of a few men with power. Therefore, when put to the test of being a patriot, it is not just proven that ...
