Robert Silverberg, the author of Socrates, wanted to show how Socrates' life and death affected the people of Athens. All Athenians were proud of the democracy that governed their everyday living. Although this democracy was thought to be perfect and impenetratable, one event proved that it was unjust. This was the prosecution of Socrates. A man who proved himself innocent in front of 501 jurors in court nevertheless was convicted, proving that Athenian democracy wasn't perfect. Socrates spent his whole life questioning people about their claims of wisdom, but didn't make a living at I like the Sophists did. Although this wasn't his career, his reputation was widespread over Athens, especially after winning a debate over Protagoras, a Sophist who charged his pupils tuition in return for conveying his knowledge. Did Socrates' life and death change the ways Athenians thought about the government they took pride in?
             Socrates wasn't an ordinary wise man who went around annoying common citizens. He was able to turn their thoughts inside out, play around with them and then leave them in a state of confusion that would haunt them for days. Most of his targets were proud, mighty men who were confident in their thoughts. He walked around in the agora and the gymnasium, turning the proud into the sober. One event that earned him a big reputation for doing this was a debate against Protagoras. A popular Sophist, who charged expensive tuition from his pupils, stopped by Athens on one of his
             teaching tours. Socrates had no interest in paying this man a visit, but after a friend insisted, he did. When Socrates got there, he began a debate with Protagoras immediately and confused him from the start. The author stated after analyzing the conversation that "Socrates had started by saying that virtue could not be taught, but he had proved that virtue was knowledge, and so presumably could be taugh...