Socrate's First Accusers and Athenian Law 

                    Of all confrontations in political philosophy, the biggest is the conflict between philosophy and politics. The problem
                    remains making philosophy friendly to politics. The questioning of authoritative opinions is not easily accomplished nor is
                    that realm of philosophy - the pursuit of wisdom. Socrates was the instigator of the conflict. While the political element
                    takes place within opinions about political life, Socrates asks the question "What is the best regime and how should I
                    live?" Ancient thought is riddled with unknowns and can make no such statement as "how should I live." The Socratic
                    philosophy offers an alternative and prepares the way for the alternative of absolutes. This alternative is not without its
                    faults. Socratic philosophy is plagued by a destructive element. It reduces the authoritative opinions about political life but
                    replaces it with nothing. This is the vital stem from which the "Apology of Socrates" is written. Because of the stinging
                    attack on Athenian life, and the opinions which they revere so highly, Socrates is placed on trial for his life. The question
                    now becomes why and in what manner did Socrates refute the gods and is he quilty? Socrates, himself, speaks out the
                    accusers charges by saying "Socrates does injustice and is meddlesome, by investigating the things under the earth and the
                    heavenly things, and by making the weaker the stronger and by teaching others these things" (Plato, 19b;c). This is the
                    charge of the "old" accusers. It is seen from an example in "The Clouds". Strepsiades goes to Socrates in order to learn
                    how to pursuade his son by "making the weaker speech the stronger" (Aristophanes, 112). Why does Socrates remind
                    the assembly about the old accusers? It appears improper for a man on trial to bring about his other 'crimes'.
                    Aristophanes, in particular, is implicated by Socrates as an old accuser. "For you yourselves used to see these things in
                    the comedy of Aristophanes" (Plato, 19c). The poets helped to shape Greek culture. Poetry was passed on and
                    perpetuated the city where thought constantly changed. Philosphy begins in debunking what the city thinks they know in
                    order to refute the god. It is evident that Socrates is not guided by the gods of the city. Socrates says "it is not part of the
                    same man to believe in daimonian and divine things" (Plato, 27e). Socrates is subtly admitting his guilt. Perhaps Socrates
                    believs in gods, but if so, they are not the gods of the city. Socrates simply denies that he has had any part in celestial or
                    subterranean inquiry - he simply speaks "elsewhere". Socrates goes on to say that those who do are reported to be
                    atheists. However, Socrates says that "Zeus does not eveeen exist" (Aristophanes, 367). 

                    Socrates replaces Zeus with nature, the permanent and necessary things accessable to reason. This is an outrage to any
                    Athenian. To deny the gods is to deny faith and ultimately the authoritarian opinions on which their politics is based. Why
                    does Socrates think that he is being unjustly punished? Chaerophon had told Socrates that the Pythian Oracle had said
                    that Socrates was the wisest man. Socrates admits that "I am conscious that I am not wise, either much or little" (Plato,
                    20b). Socrates wonders what the riddle is and sets out to "refute the divination" (Plato, 20c). This is a prime example of
                    Socrates' impiousness as is his statement in "The Clouds" where he states "we don't credit Gods" (Aristophanes, 248).
                    He is attempting to refute the god at Delphi. Socrates tries to aid his own defense by charging that what he does is in
                    devotion to the god. "Even now I still go around seeking and investigating in accordance with the god" (Plato, 23b).
                    Socrates makes this brash statement yet it is unfounded and untrue because it is not a devine order for Socrates to pursue
                    this line of investigation. In opposition, Socrates asserts that the daimonian did not oppose him. Socrates' impiety is not
                    the only thing that resulted in histrial. Socrates was "the gadfly" stinging the city of Athens. When Socrates proposes that
                    the god sent him on his quest, he set out to prove it wrong. In the process, he questioned "the politicians and those
                    reported to be wise" (Plato, 21c). After finding that no one reported to be wise, was worthy of being called wise,
                    Socrates investigated further "all the while perceiving with pain and fear that I was becoming hated" (Plato, 21e). The
                    artisans, poets, and politicians all thought they were knowledgable in "the greatest things" but, in fact, did not know
                    anything at all. "They all say noble things but they know nothing of which they speak" (Plato, 22c). Socrates, in affirming
                    that he reanked above them in wisdom, because he knew nothing, in fact became the oracles main supporter. It must be
                    noted that Socrates' support of the cities god is based solely on his 'testing' of the oracle. Socrates accepts the oracles
                    words, not on divine authority but because it passes his test of reason. The hatred of Socrates is extended, as the youth of
                    Athens imitate him and make the elders look foolish by engaging in Socratic dialogue and showing up their ignorance. This
                    led to the charge that Socrates corrupted the youth. This too was added to the impiety charge. Socrates says that the
                    youth follow him "of their own accord" (Plato, 23c). In any event, one concludes that the Delphic Oracle was a definite
                    turning point in Socrates' life. Perhaps it changes Socrates' interest from the physical and astronomical studies with moral
                    and political thought. This turning point brings Socrates into conflict with the city of Athens. His doubt of the opinions
                    taken on authority also concerned the cities god and the cities laws. That made him dangerous in the eyes of the leaders.
                    Socrates' thought was a painful sting to the glorified convictions of human conduct that meant so much to the city.
                    Socrates made the political and moral questions the focus and theme of his "second sailing" as he suggested in
                    Aristophanes' "Clouds". By virtue of Socrates' turn, philosophy now becomes political. The "Apology" presents a critique
                    of political life from the view of philosophy. Socrates disrupts prevailing opinions without providing a substantial opinion
                    to replace it. This may be intentional as to let man decide between his longings and the necessity of political life. The
                    problem now is how to make philsoophy friendly to politics. Whether or not that can be done is not to be answered here.