This study guide examines Socrates plea for his life and his contention that he cannot be harmed by his execution. He forgives the people of Athens and contends that his moral purity frees him from any harm in his death. Socrates defense against the charges that he has been corrupting the youth of Athens simply contends that a many of high moral character and virtue would not do harm to others or himself and that no man would choose to be harmed. On this basis it is not possible for the sentence of death to harm Socrates and passing the sentence might really be doing more harm to his accusers and the people of the city of Athens than it ever could do to Socrates. The author concludes that a low moral character will be nothing but harm. A good start at understanding the argument for moral superiority and purity.
