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Brain Busters: The Death of Socrates

By Jeylyn P.



On February 15th, 399 B.C.E, at approximately 71 years old, Socrates’ trial had ended. He was on trial for the charge of corrupting the youth of Athens and for Impiety (not being religious), which he was found guilty of. As was the custom at the time, he was given the opportunity to choose his own punishment and Socrates proposed that he be given free food and housing by the state to compensate for the services he said he provided. The state, however, declined his offer and ordered the death penalty.

Socrates was given the chance to offer an alternative punishment after the verdict but he did not make any. The jurors wanted Socrates to drink hemlock (a poisonous drink) to impose the death penalty. However, the punishment was postponed due to Athenian ceremonies so Socrates had to spend a few days in prison. His friends visited him and offered him an opportunity to escape, which Socrates declined.

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