Socrates, the First Monotheist
Socrates was an early Greek philosopher who had many pupils, but even more enemies. In 399 B.C., he was charged with denying the existence of the gods of the state and in turn creating new divinities. By teaching, he was corrupting the youth of Athens. He pleaded his case in Plato's Apology, but he was eventually convicted and executed. In this essay, I intend to prove that Socrates did not deny the existing Greek gods, but only believed in one god and was in fact one of the first In Plato's Euthyphro, Socrates and Euthyphro have a friendly conversation in which Socrates asks Euthyphro to define the word piety. Euthyphro points to his own actions-prosecuting his father for murdering a servant in anger-as a proper definition for piety. He then citesexamples from the actions of Zeus and Cronos who bothturned against their fathers for their wrongdoings. Socrates apparently doesn't believe in the Greek gods as he replies, "May not this be the reason...why I am charged with piety-that I cannot away with these stories of the gods?" (Euthyphro, p.5) Socrates asks Euthyphro if he actually believes whether or not tehse storis of the gods are true and Euthyphro immediately repl
While defending the charge of denying the existence of gods, he interrogated Meletus who was the man bringing the charges against him. He also believed that retaliation was wrong, and one shouldn't render evil for evil suffered. if I believe in divine beings, I must believe in spirits and demigods" (Apology, p. Socrates preached a few teachings that are almost comparable to those of Jesus. Christians believe that leading a sinful life will result in eternal life in Hell, whereas a good life will result in eternal life in Heaven with God. He reveres this God and says to those who charge him, ". Socrates, being his inquisitive self, investigated whether or not this be true. In Crito, he explained to Crito that he was not afraid of death, for it is the will of God. He condemned sin and refused to commit any wrongdoings.
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