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Socrates, the Servant of God

Published January 10, 2026, 06:08
Socrates, the Servant of God

Shortly after the death of Socrates in 399 BC, Plato wrote the "Apology", a work presenting the defense of his teacher against the accusations leveled against him. Socrates was accused of impiety and corrupting the youth, charges frequently used by Athenians against philosophers. In his apology, Socrates does not seek acquittal at all costs, but to awaken the Athenians, likening himself to a gadfly stinging a drowsy horse. He believes that virtue and care for the soul are supreme goods and reproaches the Athenians for their obsession with material possessions and glory. Alongside the "Apology", Plato wrote the "Euthyphro", where Socrates explores the concept of piety through a dialogue with Euthyphro. Socrates challenges conventional notions of what is pious, leading Euthyphro into contradictions and dilemmas. The dialogue culminates in a sarcastic conclusion, where Socrates argues that piety resembles a commercial transaction between gods and men. Both works, the "Apology" and the "Euthyphro", highlight the Socratic method of questioning and seeking truth. Socrates does not offer ready-made answers but challenges his interlocutors to examine their beliefs and pursue knowledge. The trial and condemnation of Socrates were a tragic event that deeply affected Plato and led him to write these works, aiming to preserve and disseminate the teachings of his teacher. Overall, these works present a critique of Athenian society and its values, as well as a defense of philosophy as a way of life and a pursuit of truth. Socrates, despite the risk of death, remains faithful to his principles and continues to question and provoke his fellow citizens, believing that this is his duty to God and the city.

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