At the end of the Peloponnesian War, around 400 B.C.E., the city of Athens went through some changes. Ideas of free thought and open inquiry, which were once accepted, now became unacceptable (Spielvogel, p.75) Athenians during this time felt that open questioning of authority would create a nation of insubordinate youth and eventually destroy all that their civilization stood for. These reasons and others led to the condemnation of one of Athens most well known citizens, Socrates. For thousands of years, philosophers and students alike have been analyzing the trial and what little they know about it so they might be able to interpret if the decision was truly just for that time period. Through the evidence recalled in Plato's The Apology, one is clearly able to see why Socrates was rightfully condemned by the jury of Athens. Socrates displayed an attitude of arrogance and unwillingness to compromise, along with his non acceptance of the state religion, and most importantly he jeopardized the Athenian way of life. The decision of the jurors was the right one for their time and their lifestyle.
             With what little we know about Socrates, we know that he was not a commonly liked man. He was someone who rubbed people the wrong way and got under their skin. His dislike came mainly from his perceived arrogance and his unwillingness to compromise. Socrates knew that he was smart and apparently the gods thought he was too (Tredennick, p.41) Socrates was not humble about this information, but instead made it a mission to prove this the other citizens of the polis. In his trial, he was no different than he was in real life. In the introduction to The Apology, Harold Tarrant makes a good insight about Socrates attitudes and what the Athenian people thought of it,
             "Socrates' very conduct in the court could be taken as proof that his conduct in general promoted insubordination and a lack of respect for any authority. Had he himse...