Socrate's First Accusers and Athenian Law Of all confrontations in political philosophy, the biggest is the conflict between philosophy and politics. The problemremains making philosophy friendly to politics. Thequestioning of authoritative opinions is not easilyaccomplished nor is that realm of philosophy - the pursuit ofwisdom. Socrates was the instigator of the conflict. Whilethe political element takes place within opinions aboutpolitical life, Socrates asks the question "What is the bestregime and how should I live?" Ancient thought is riddledwith unknowns and can make no such statement as "howshould I live." The Socratic philosophy offers an alternativeand prepares the way for the alternative of absolutes. Thisalternative is not without its faults. Socratic philosophy isplagued by a destructive element. It reduces the authoritativeopinions about political life but replaces it with nothing. Thisis the vital stem from which the "Apology of Socrates" iswritten. Because of the stinging attack on Athenian life, andthe opinions which they revere so highly, Socrates is placedon trial for his life. The question now becomes why and inwhat 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 investigatingthe things under the earth and the heavenly things, and bymaking the weaker the stronger and by teaching others thesethings" (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 topursuade his son by "making the weaker speech thestronger" (Aristophanes, 112). Why does Socrates remindthe assembly about the old accusers? It appears improperfor a man on trial to bring about his other 'crimes'.Aristophanes, in particular, is implicated by Socrates as anold accuser. "For you yourselves used to see these things inthe comedy of Aristophanes" (P...
