Was Socrates was a good or bad Athenian Citizen? Evaluate and support your answer based on Plato’s Apology.

Prelimary remarks:·       Really depends on how you see and define Athenian citizen. Or more importantly, the role of a citizen.·       Regarding the Athenian law, he is bad.·       Significant trial, accusation of Athens as much as a defence of Socrates.·       One needs to remember the lens we see it from today, classical reception. In some sense, we would have disagreed with the Athenian constitution ourselves.Good Athenian citizen:·       Introduce Socrates - The good philosophical life he thinks leads, by virtue, piety and truth. Include Delphic oracle.·       Actually pushing the state forward, critical, more caring than anyone else. He is like a gadfly to a horse.Bad Athenian citizen:·       According to Athens, he was bad, actually got exiled. Was seen to be corrupting the young and bringing in new religious divinities.·       On the flip side, he could be seen as offensive and overly challenging toward the state. Too confrontational. Antigone reference, tragedy. State law is law.·       Supported by Clouds – Aristophanes.Good again:·       He helped the city a lot during the Peloponnesian War. Good citizen·       His death was a tragedy for Athens. He knew it, did not regret his decision. Didn’t want to go elsewhere. Classical reception again, we can escape from our lens. We teach Plato and we don’t enforce religion. 

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Answered by Samuel V. Classical Civilisation tutor

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