
Socrates was put on trial in 399 BC for the crimes of asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens, and corruption of the youth of the city-state. The charges were brought against him because he failed to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges and introduced new deities. Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking a poisonous beverage of hemlock.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Crime | Not believing in God |
| Crime | Corrupting the youth |
| Accusation | Failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges |
| Accusation | Introducing new deities |
| Punishment | Death by drinking hemlock |
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What You'll Learn
- Socrates was charged with asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens
- He was accused of failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges
- Socrates was also charged with introducing new deities
- The philosopher was accused of corrupting the youth of the city-state
- Socrates refused to flee Athens, instead choosing to abide by the decisions of Athenian law

Socrates was charged with asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens
Socrates was given several chances to escape into exile but chose to stay in Athens and abide by the decisions of Athenian law, indicating his strong belief in civil obedience. He even argued fervently against breaking any laws and against having willingly committed crimes in the face of his Athenian accusers.
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He was accused of failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges
Socrates was accused of failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges. He was put on trial for the crimes of not believing in God and for corrupting the youth. The trial of Socrates (399 BC) was held to determine the philosopher's guilt of two charges: asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens, and corruption of the youth of the city-state. The accusers cited two impious acts by Socrates: failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges and introducing new deities.
Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking a poisonous beverage of hemlock. However, he refused to flout the law and escape his legal responsibility to Athens. Instead, he chose to stay in Athens and abide by the decisions made by Athenian law, indicating his strong belief in civil obedience.
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Socrates was also charged with introducing new deities
Socrates was charged with introducing new deities, which was considered asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens. The accusers cited two impious acts by Socrates: "failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges" and "introducing new deities". Socrates was also charged with corrupting the youth of the city-state.
Socrates was put on trial by the Athenian court for these crimes, and the majority of the dikasts (male-citizen jurors chosen by lot) voted to convict him of the two charges. Consistent with common legal practice, they then voted to determine his punishment and agreed on a sentence of death, to be carried out by Socrates drinking a poisonous beverage of hemlock.
Socrates had the opportunity to escape into exile but chose to stay in Athens and abide by the decisions of Athenian law, indicating his strong belief in civil obedience. He even argued fervently against breaking any laws and against having willingly committed crimes in the face of his Athenian accusers.
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The philosopher was accused of corrupting the youth of the city-state
Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth of the city-state, as well as asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens. The accusers cited two impious acts by Socrates: "failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges" and "introducing new deities". The death sentence of Socrates was the legal consequence of asking politico-philosophic questions of his students, which resulted in the two accusations of moral corruption and impiety.
At trial, the majority of the dikasts (male-citizen jurors chosen by lot) voted to convict him of the two charges. Consistent with common legal practice, they then voted to determine his punishment and agreed on a sentence of death, to be executed by Socrates drinking a poisonous beverage of hemlock.
Socrates was given several chances to escape into exile but chose to stay in Athens and abide by the decisions of Athenian law, indicating his strong belief in civil obedience. He even argued fervently against breaking any laws and against having willingly committed crimes in the face of his Athenian accusers.
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Socrates refused to flee Athens, instead choosing to abide by the decisions of Athenian law
Socrates' choice to stay in Athens and abide by the decisions of Athenian law indicates his strong belief in civil obedience. He even argues fervently against breaking any laws and against having willingly committed crimes in the face of his Athenian accusers. This is in line with his philosophy of justice and obedience to laws, which is motivated by a will to avoid the destructive effects of Sophistic criticisms and theories of laws.
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Frequently asked questions
Socrates was on trial for the crimes of not believing in the gods of Athens and for corrupting the youth.
The two charges were asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens and corruption of the youth of the city-state.
Failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges and introducing new deities.
Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking a poisonous beverage of hemlock.
No, Socrates refused to flee Athens, choosing to abide by the decisions of Athenian law.
















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