The Apology

Exploration of The Apology After Socrates was convicted, he makes a prophecy. The prophecy is that vengeance will come upon those who convicted him. He prophesizes the Zeus will be much harsher to those who convicted Socrates than they were to Socrates. He says that more, younger people will step up in his place. In condemning Socrates, the Athenians are not freeing themselves. They are actually making it worse for themselves. More people are going to take Socrates place and they will question the Athenians just as Socrates did. They will even be harsher than Socrates was (39, c, d). The new gadflies will sting Athens even harder. Continuing on, Socrates states, “what’s best and easiest isn’t to put down other people, but to prepare oneself to be the best on can” (39 d). He says this in a last attempt to teach the people in the courtroom. He knows that younger people will step up in his place and continue questioning the higher authorities of Athens just as he did. He knows that the Athenians will never be free of Socrates just because he has been condemned to death. Socrates has taught many people and has many followers that will continue his work. He says the best and easiest thing to do isn’t to put down other people because more people will just step up after they put down the first. Putting people down for what they believe will not free the Athenians from questioning and they teachings of Socrates. It might even fuel Socrates followers’ cause. Socrates warns the jury that it would be easier if they did not worry about Socrates and his followers and to let them be and instead focus on themselves. If they bettered themselves and were able to answer Socrates questions, then they would truly be free. Socrates prophecy definitely applies to me and should apply to everyone else in the world. It is much better to stop having prejudice against people that are different than you are. However, it might not be the easiest thing to do. In the long run, it would