Question

Socrates is accused of atheism and corrupting the youth. How are these charges be related? Why would the government find these to be criminal offenses?

Answer 1

Answer:

Socrates was accused of atheism and corrupting the youth, charges that were closely linked to each other since religion was one of the fundamental pillars in ancient Greece. Thus, atheism was the negation of the social order itself, that is, the negation of the fundamental pillars of the Greek society of the time. Then, transmitting said atheism was considered by the authorities as a way of corrupting young people, making them, like him, contrary to the social order. Therefore, his actions were considered crimes by the Athenian authorities.