Socrates' Trial: The Death of a Gadfly

Socrates was sentenced to death in 399 BCE, but why did Athens turn on its most famous philosopher? This episode unpacks the political and religious charges against him — impiety and corrupting the youth — and the decades of resentment that led to his trial. We explore the role of the Three Accusers: Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon, and how the restored democracy after the Thirty Tyrants targeted Socrates as a scapegoat for its past traumas. The Delphic Oracle's declaration that no one was wiser than Socrates, the comic lampoons of Aristophanes in The Clouds, and Socrates' own daimonion all fuelled suspicion. We also examine the actual mechanics of the trial: the 501-juror dikasteria, the nearly equal split of votes, and why Socrates refused exile or escape. The episode ends with a reflection on what his death meant for philosophy and democratic accountability — a story that still resonates today. #Socrates #TrialOfSocrates #AncientAthens #GreekPhilosophy #Meletus #Anytus #Lycon #DelphicOracle #Aristophanes #TheClouds #Daimonion #Dikasteria #ThirtyTyrants #399BCE #AthenianDemocracy #Philosophy #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo