socrates democracy ship socrates democracy ship

Diversity: democracies have always prided themselves on being diverse. The Ultimate Test of Emotional Maturity, 20. We would much rather spend this money on producing more free history content for the world. We are used to thinking very highly of democracy and by extension, of Ancient Athens, the civilisation that gave rise to it. On one level, this is easy enough to understand: philosophers in ancient Athens tended to earn their livings by presiding over the higher education of a select group: the wealthy young men of the city. 10. Why We Need to Speak of Love in Public, 01. Why Grandiosity is a Symptom of Self-Hatred, 10. In Book Six of The Republic, Plato describes Socrates falling into conversation with a character called Adeimantus and trying to get him to see the flaws of democracy by comparing a society to a ship. But this liberty can often lead to undisciplined pleasure-seeking on the part of its citizens. How 'Transference' Makes You Hard to Live With, 46. What Makes a Good Parent? How a Messed up Childhood Affects You in Adulthood, 43. Questionnaire, 06. Meanwhile, Socrates experienced the ill-effects of democracy on his life at his famous trial. This site uses cookies to recognize users and allow us to analyse site usage. World History Encyclopedia. The Hardest Person in the World to Break up With, 24. ---, 1983, "The Historical Socrates . First, let's look at it from Socrates' point of view. Plato believes democracy leads to unequipped leaders who hold offices and power without the necessary traits and preparation. In the ideal society Socrates constructs in the Republic, he famously argues for restricted freedom of movement, strict censorship according to moralistic civic virtues, and a guardian soldier class and the rule of philosopher kings. 18. What Women and Men May Learn from One Another When They are Just Friends, 01. He didnt believe that a narrow few should only ever vote. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. 05. Socrates was to have first hand, catastrophic experience of the foolishness of voters. Socrates's View Of Democracy. Socrates often criticized Athenian democracy. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. There is no extra cost to the buyer. Aristotle, for his part, listed democracy as the failed version of rule by the multitudes. Web. Education is the best hope for a democracy. Now, it is important to understand that the democracy in Athens was much different than the kind we have today Athens was much closer to a direct democracy than most of us would be comfortable with. Parable of the Ship ( Republic 6.487-6.491a) Socrates is relating an earlier exchange between himself and Adeimantus, the brother of Plato and Glaucon. Complicated People, 16. Why We Need the Ancient Greek Vocabulary of Love, 11. Two Questions to Repair a Relationship, 02. In the metaphor, found at 488a-489d, Plato's Socrates compares the population at large to a strong but near-sighted shipowner whose knowledge of seafaring is lacking. Why Our Best Thoughts Come To Us in the Shower, 13. Thus, tyranny will replace it quickly. 22. Why We Should Try to Become Better Narcissists, 14. Would It Be Better for Your Job If You Were Celibate? Democracy is, perhaps, the greatest invention of ancient Greece. His outlook was fueled by the belief that states should be governed by philosopher kings, Lets learn about the views of Socrates on democracy in Platos, For almost fifty years, the ancient city of Athens experienced a reprieve from wars with its neighbors. Twenty Key Concepts from Psychotherapy, 09. It was young men like Alcibiades who were engaged in anti-democratic activities during the Peloponnesian War. Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms, so said Winston Churchill, noted champion of democratic ideals. Summary: Book VIII. Any government is only as good as its rulers. The Catastrophe You Fear Will Happen has Already Happened, 12. The Fear of Not Being Able to Cope Practically Without a Partner. The Future of the Communications Industry. What Others Think of You - and The Fall of Icarus, 17. We have forgotten all about Socratess salient warnings against democracy. Socrates learned his ABCs quietly in a small school in which he was taught reading . For the Greeks this was an education in grammar,logic, andrhetoric,arithmetic,geometry, music, andastronomy. 04. Are the people really as incompetent at political decision-making as Plato fears? In this pursuit, he falls prey to drones, or men who are under the influence of excess and prodigality. Imagine then a fleet or a ship in which there is a captain who is taller and stronger than any of the crew, but he is a little deaf and has a similar infirmity in sight, and his knowledge of navigation is not much better. The Shortest Journey: On Going for a Walk around the Block, 10. That is unlikely to have been a coincidence; rather, it suggests that there was, at the time, a sense of anxiety about the dangers of religious unorthodoxy and about the political consequences that religious deviation could bring. 'Let Him Who Is Without Sin Cast the First Stone', 09. The crew of the ship, meanwhile, are the disputatious demagogues and politicians who hold sway in Athens political assembly, each vying for influence and power over their fellow citizens. For Socrates, so-called "birthright democracy" was inevitably susceptible to demagoguery. The Difficulties of Work-Life Balance, 05. One which is so bad that people ultimately cry out for a dictator to save them from it. He especially criticized it for the selfish individuals who gained power and wealth by using speech-making tricks and flattery to gain the support of citizens. Cafe de Zaak, Utrecht - for Sex Education, 15. Five Questions to Ask of Bad Behaviour, 17. How Often Do We Need to Go to Parties? Or will we end up like Athens? Now that Socrates has finished describing the just city, he returns to the interrupted task of describing the four unjust constitutions of city and man. * Indeed, we even use the word philosophical in everyday speech to describe people who have a calm attitude in the face of disappointment: in common parlance and the popular imagination, then, being philosophical is certainly not something you openly do when successfully pulling the levers of worldly power. Socrates believes that this version of equality has a lack of discrimination and does not dictate which way of life is better. Analysis: Book VI, 484a-502c. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen. He also argues that in a system in which everyone has a right to rule all sorts of selfish people who care nothing for the people but are only motivated by their own personal desires are able to attain power. Socratess point is that voting in an election is a skill, not a random intuition. Plato tells us that a mere 30 votes, out of a jury of 500, killed him. Socrates himself held office in this way once, and witnessed what amounted to an angry mob illegally putting generals to death on his watch. Socrates knew how easily people seeking election could exploit our desire for easy answers. So perfect a government is not for men.. Why Anxious and Avoidant Partners Find It Hard to Leave One Another. Its therefore very striking to discover that one of Ancient Greeces great achievements, Philosophy, was highly suspicious of its other achievement, Democracy. "lovers of truth" Citizenship Citizens are ill-equipped, must obey all laws because they received the benefits of the state. Can any democracy, especially one as vulnerable as Athens at the time, tolerate civil disobedience? Socrates refers specifically to the legislation and the passage of laws. Instead the loudest voices will dominate, irrational, ill-motivated decisions will be made and the complex arena of politics which is in need of carful ordering and management will turn into a crazy circus. What Community Centres Should Be Like, 09. And, you might be surprised to learn, theyre mostly negative. Do you think the doctor would be able to reply effectively? In the Republic, Plato writes that Socrates was debating (well, more so lecturing about) the nature of the ideal state. My doctoral supervisor once told me of how she had been campaigning to try to get philosophers onto many of the various university decision-taking panels and boards she had contact with. The sculpture named Ship of Fools by Jurgen Weber is based on the satirical allegory by Sebastian Brant. "It is better to make a mistake with full force of your being than to carefully . He was put to death by hemlock in a process which is, for thinking people, every bit as tragic as Jesuss condemnation has been for Christians. We care about our planet! Many Athenians would not, we can guess, have shared Platos damning assessment of the limited capacities of the owner of the ship, or the sailors on board, in his analogy. Why so Many Love the Philosophy of the East - and so Few That of the West, 04. They kill the Truth." ~ Socrates. At the time of Socrates trial in 399 BCE, Pericles had been dead for 30 years and other events had occurred which were less conducive to political liberty and tolerance. Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Capri Hotel, Changi Airport, Singapore - for Thinking, 16. Plato's democracy is not the modern notion of a mix of democracy and republicanism, but rather direct democracy by way of pure majority rule. The Importance of Being an Unhappy Teenager, 36. How Mental Illness Impacts Our Bodies, 05. Why, Once You Understand Love, You Could Love Anyone. Life, T. S. o. But it remains the case, according to the Socrates of Apology, that his alleged religious unorthodoxy was deeply worrying to his prosecutors and jurors. Hegel Knew There Would Be Days Like These. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. If you were heading out on a journey by sea, asks Socrates, who would you ideally want deciding who was in charge of the vessel? What You Need to Know About Psychotherapy, 01. Socrates. 04. Why We Get Locked Inside Stories and How to Break Free, 05. How to Stop Being Scared All the Time, 20. Leading figures in the Athenian army and navy were not selectedby lot for their posts (and yet they mostly performed their roles to the satisfaction of their fellow citizens, while presiding over a flourishing institution). Since Hermes was the god of travel, the city feared a conspiracy against the democracy. The fragility of democracy had been laid bare. The owner of the ship, he says, is big and strong but he is hard of hearing, shortsighted and not much of a navigator. Ignorance, Awareness. Your email address will not be published. Small Triumphs of the Mentally Unwell, 35. Socrates in Plato's Republic attacks democracy and has become known as anti-democratic. On Pleasure in the Downfall of the Mighty, 22. . The political background of his trial is important because it helps to explain why he was not prosecuted in the 430s or 420s or at any other time of his life. How Parents Get in the Way of Our Career Plans, 07. He does so by introducing us to the democratic man, one whose life is subject to no order or restraint. This democratic man illustrates the perverse nature of democracy. How To Have Fewer Bitter Arguments in Love, 20. A jury of 500 Athenians was invited to weigh up the case and decided by a narrow. They throng about the captain, begging and praying him to commit the helm to them; and if at any time they do not prevail, but others are preferred to them, they kill the others or throw them overboard, and having first chained up the noble captains senses with drink or some narcotic drug, they mutiny and take possession of the ship and make free with the stores; thus, eating and drinking, they proceed on their voyage in such manner as might be expected of them. While the western world places a high value on democracy today, this wasnt always the case. And so it makes sense that Socrates was one of its biggest critics. Running a website with millions of readers every month is expensive. The One Subject You Really Need to Study: Your Own Childhood, 33. How to Get Your Parents Out of Your Head, 16. It is common sense (and wise) to let the person educated in the rules and demands of seafaring take charge of the ship. Plato's views on democracy are negative; he believes democracy to be bred from a response to inequality of wealth and to heighten all of humanities worst traits. How To Spot A Couple That Might Be Headed For An Affair, 15. Some random passenger, or a well-trained, educated, and experienced captain? When Do You Know You Are Emotionally Mature? 11. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Who Was Achilles? Leonard Cohen's song "Democracy" contains the line "Sail on. A very brief answer here might be that, if they had cared to reflect on it, Platos analogy would likely have seemed a rather loaded one. Why Philosophy Should Become More Like Pop Music, 04. But, whereas the primary motivation of the oligarchy is to gain wealth, democracy arises when "the poor win." Its aims are to banish the luxurious state and ensure liberty for all. Excellence then is a habit." ~ Socrates. Philosophy Now 2023. The origins of the metaphor can be traced back to the lyric poet Alcaeus (fragments 6, 208, 249), and it is also found in Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes, Sophocles' Antigone and Aristophanes' Wasps before Plato. Why Dating Apps Won't Help You Find Love, 03. And even if neither Anytus nor the other prosecutors (Meletus and Lycon) harboured such fears, it is hard to believe that they were entirely absent from the minds of those who heard his case. They recklessly gorge themselves on the ships resources, while disagreeing with one another about who should be in charge on board, with each sailor believing he should be the captain (despite having neither experience nor training). The strange bronze artifact perplexed scholars for more than a century, including how it traveled so far from home. Laws must be obeyed regardless. The Myth of the Achilles Heel, 10 Places Where You Can Visit a Roman Coliseum Outside of Rome. 12. The ship's crew are in persistent disarray. Why was a man of such integrity sentenced to death by the democratic majority of his civilized peers? Three Steps to Resolving Conflicts in Relationships, 05. The Western Desert, Australia for Humility, 12. 6 Reasons Not to Worry What the Neighbours Think, 24. on Twitter, Share Why Socrates Hated Democracy, and What We Can Do about It. In Praise of Small Chats With Strangers, 02. on LinkedIn. At least 6,000 members were required to be present at the Assembly for legislation to pass. Rather than looking to the ships owner, or to themselves, he thinks the sailors on board the Athenian ship should look instead to a marginal, currently powerless figure whose quiet presence on board is regrettably overlooked: this figure he calls the true navigator. On the Faultiness of Our Economic Indicators. How We Get Damaged by Emotional Neglect, 37. Why We Do - After All - Care about Politics, 05. And the resulting peace ushered in advancements in the arts and philosophy, and, most notably, the heyday of Athenian democracy. How To Write An Effective Thank You Letter, 05. The latter of course, says Adeimantus, so why then, responds Socrates, do we keep thinking that any old person should be fit to judge who should be a ruler of a country? How Good Are You at Communication in Love? Because a general amnesty had been negotiated, no one, except the 30 and a few others, could be tried for offenses committed prior to 403, when the 30 were defeated. We have forgotten all about Socratess salient warnings against democracy. Democratic people have little tolerance for argument: Mob . A jury of 500 Athenians was invited to weigh up the case and decided by a narrow margin that the philosopher was guilty. 17. Socrates famously characterises democracy as the rule of the unwise, . Shakespeare: 'When, in disgrace with fortune and mens eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state', 05. Eastown Theatre, Detroit - for Perspective, 17. I dont know if this argument ever gained any traction but it is a good example of how in our society too philosophers voices are usually pretty marginal to the way things in the arena of practical affairs proceed. The Seven Most Calming Works of Art in the World, 14. Socrates; Socrates' alleged preference for democracy above all other constitutions; the meaning of Socrates' commitment to Athenian democracy; Socrates' conception of the "royal art" and the doctrine that virtue is knowledge; the "true" historical Socrates. Voltaire, who supported all of the liberal freedoms of speech and religion, told Catharine the Great of Russia that, Almost nothing great has ever been done in the world except by the genius and firmness of a single man combating the prejudices of the multitude. What Is Wrong with Modern Times - and How to Regain Wisdom, 17. It aims to satisfy the needs of patrons who pay for buildings or health or ships . The law that Socrates was alleged to have violated was a law against impiety, but in support of that accusation he also was accused of having corrupted the young. Socrates "knew how easily people seeking election could exploit our desire for easy answers" by telling us what we wanted to hear. In Book 6 of Plato's Republic, in the context of a damning appraisal of the way the democracy at Athens works, Socrates compares the Athenian state to a ship. On Being Wary of Simple-Looking Issues, 02. Why did this happen? When people pleasers become parents - and need to say 'no', 24. 10 Ideas for People Afraid to Exit a Relationship, 16. 2. Varieties of Madness Commonly Met with On Dates, 08. Half of American adults dont know that each state gets two senators, two thirds dont know what the FDA does. That is why this allegation receives all his attention. Socrates is the quintessential watershed of ancient thought. Letting the citizenry vote without an education is as irresponsible as putting them in charge of a trireme sailing to Samos in a storm. How We Came to Desire a Job We Could Love, 03. He could have escaped, but didnt. World History Encyclopedia, 18 Jul 2017. In Book 8 of the Republic, Plato describes how a democracy is unlikely to be a stable political solution, since it offers freedom but neglects the demands of proper statecraft. How often have you heard the quote in one form or another? Why We're All Capable of Damaging Others, 07. Heres a simplified overview of how Athenian democracy worked in the 5th century BC: The Assembly, called Ecclesia in ancient Greek, was the central governing body in ancient Athens. Plato, through the character of Socrates, gives an analogy related to democracy: he asks us to imagine a ship whose owner surpasses all those on the ship in height and strength, . It is rational to leave the exercise of skills to experts. The term has entered popular culture as well. The analogy of the ship arguably allows Plato to make his argument that only very few people should be able to control the state just a bit more effectively. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. For almost fifty years, the ancient city of Athens experienced a reprieve from wars with its neighbors. As he argues with Adeimantus in Plato's Republic, Socrates compared society to a ship. Good Salaries: What We Earn - and What Were Worth, 02. Why Youre (Probably) Not a Great Communicator, 01. Tesla founder Elon Musk is in talks with the governor of Puerto Rico to help rebuild the islands power grid using Tesla technologies. Why Abused Children End Up Hating Themselves, 09. Socrates argues at his trial that a democracy such as Athens is particularly in need of someone critical and controversial: And so, men of Athens, I am now making my defence not for my own sake, as one might imagine, but far more for yours, that you may not by condemning me err in your treatment of the gift the god gave you. On the Continuing Relevance of Marriage, 11. The year in which Socrates was prosecuted, 399, was one in which several other prominent figures were brought to trial in Athens on the charge of impiety. What They Forget to Teach You at School, 08. The Task of Turning Vague Thoughts into More Precise Ones, 10. On Failure and Success in the Game of Fame, 02. Too Close or Too Distant: How We Stand in Relationships, 23. How to Live More Wisely Around Our Phones, 22. How Social Media Affects Our Self-Worth, 20. This idea was big for Plato, democracy would lead to tyrants. Why You Should Take a Sentence Completion Test. Will the critiques of democracy given from its cradle be acknowledged? What made him the object of prosecution in 399, after so many years during which his behaviour was tolerated, was a change in political circumstances. 04. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/1223/why-socrates-hated-democracy/. Just anyone or people educated in the rules and demands of seafaring? The Socrates who speaks to us in Platos Apology has no doubt that the charge of impiety against him must be refuted. You can read four articles free per month. [3] More recently, it has become a staple of American political discussion, where it is viewed simply as its image of the state as a ship, in need of a government as officers to command itand conspicuously absent of its anti-democratic, pro-absolutist original meaning. Two World Views: Romantic and Classical. Their rule was marked by mass executions and the exiling of political dissenters. He then goes on to propose a totalitarian regime as the ideal state, where the rulers have all been educated in ruling for decades before taking absolute power. To describe the shortcomings of democracy, Socrates uses the analogy of a ship whose crew mutinies against their captain. Plato 's political philosophy has thus often been considered. At one point he asks his associate, Adeimantus, who he would rather have managing a voyage on the sea. The idea that democracy is fundamentally flawed even had sponsors in later, more liberal, thinkers. The Point of Writing Letters We Never Send, 12. i.e. Athenian democracy didnt like Socrates either, which is why the troublesome thinker was eventually democratically put to death. His understanding of liberalism was separated almost completely from democracy. His jury might have taken his association with opponents of the democracy, or with persons convicted or suspected of religious crimes, to be grounds for considering him a dangerous man. The owner of the ship, he says, is big and strong - but he is hard of hearing, shortsighted and not much of a navigator. The sweet shop owner would say of his rival: Look, this person here has worked many evils on you. All Rights Reserved. one in which citizens participated in government without elected representatives as go-betweens. And, as a result, citizens assume whatever functions they please, which results in a society marked by enormous variety. The analogy of the ship thus forms part of Platos broader argument, but it encapsulates many of his key points on politics in general on the state of Athenian society, on the inadequacy of democracy as a form of government, and on the nature of the alterations to it that he would like to see. 19. Adeimantus and Socrates are having a debate about democracy, and the only way this perfect city could be run successfully. "Why Socrates Hated Democracy." The founding father of Greek philosophy, Socrates, is portrayed in Plato's dialogues as extremely pessimistic about the whole issue of democracy. Pumping Station, Isla Mayor, Seville - for Snobbery, 18. The law that Socrates was alleged to have violated was a law against impiety, and the thrust of his defense, as presented by Plato, was that his life has been consumed by his single-minded devotion to the god. 16. Why didnt Socrates try to escape his death sentence? In Book Four, Socrates finally gives his answer to what constitutes a just society: A city that doesn't use money so that there is no poverty or rich, A city that has the wisest Rulers. One day, while Socrates was chatting with his students, a student asked Socrates: The Difference Between Eastern and Western Cultures, 05. The Peloponnesian War, a gruelling conflict between Sparta and Athens, was fought on and off for almost 30 years, ending in the defeat of Athens in 404 BCE and the installation of a pro-Spartan oligarchy, the Thirty Tyrants. What We Owe to the People Who Loved Us in Childhood, 39. Tragedies and Ordinary Lives in the Media, 05. He didnt believe that a narrow few should only ever vote. How Could a Working Life Be Meaningful? Plato could hardly be expected to forgive them that deed. Why We Should Not Silently Suffer From A Lack of Touch in Love, 33. Introducing the all new The School of Life App. The ideas and/or influence of philosophers, in one form or another, often lie hidden and unacknowledged within the moral reasoning people employ. In the British TV series Yes, Minister, Sir Humphrey Appleby pointed out that "the Ship of State is the only ship that leaks from the top".[4]. . The result of his pleasure-seeking is internal disorder. In the estimation of the majority of Athens ordinary citizen population, he himself suggests, philosophers served no self-evidently useful purpose. Then, of course, a jury decided by a slim majority to put him to death on flimsy charges. on Facebook, Share Why Socrates Hated Democracy, and What We Can Do about It. Perhaps Platos ship analogy is also flawed: Is statecraft really a skill like navigation, dentistry or carpentry, a skill which requires an expert in the field to execute it? 22. On the Responsibility of the Consumer, 01. Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends and Influence People, 05. The views of Socrates on democracy were formed at least in part by his personal experience living in one. presidents or prime ministers represents just one clear point of contrast with democracy at Athens. "This, then, seems likely to be the fairest of States, being like an embroidered robe which is spangled with every sort of flower." -Socrates (Plato's Republic) Socrates wonders who you would wish to choose as captain of the ship if you were embarking on a voyage by sea. Socrates knew how easily people seeking election could exploit our desire for easy answers. In the dialogues of Plato, the founding father of Greek Philosophy - Socrates - is portrayed as hugely pessimistic about the whole business of democracy. What Rothko's Art Teaches Us About Suffering, 04. He hurts you, gives you bitter potions and tells you he not to eat and drink whatever you like. By continuing to browse the site with cookies enabled in your browser, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy. Reference to it has been made routinely throughout Western culture ever since its inception; two notable literary examples are Horace's ode 1.14 and "O Ship of State" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. For Those Who (Privately) Aspire to Become More Reclusive, 12. His idea of the perfect city is described as a three tiered system of rulers, guardians, and artisans; all whom know their place inside and outside of politics. And once a trial had begun, it was common practice for prosecutors to mention anything that might be judged prejudicial to the accused. Why Affectionate Teasing is Kind and Necessary, 04. A problem which continues to trouble thinkers like Richard Dawkins. Teaching Children about Relationships. And, therefore, his faith in the political judgments and character of everyday Athenians is limited, to say the least. Why You Can't Read Your Partner's Mind. What Role Do You Play in Your Relationship? Sail on, o mighty ship of state. Why We Sometimes Feel Like Curling Up Into a Ball, 10. If youve been wondering what about the women?, know that gender inequality was endemic to Athenian institutions. Socrates 449 likes Like "I examined the poets, and I look on them as people whose talent overawes both themselves and others, people who present themselves as wise men and are taken as such, when they are nothing of the sort. Why When It Comes to Children Love May Not Be Enough, 09. The Psychological Obstacles Holding Employees Back, 01. Tolerance: The two prior characteristics give birth to a broad tolerance that doesnt exist under other systems. Socrates was charged with disbelieving the gods and corrupting the youth of Athens. knowledge of the world of essential forms, Allegory of the Cave: Platos Cave Allegory Explained, Platos Republic: Justice in Four Definitions. Unfortunately, women had no voice or representation during the Classical Period of Greece. Innovation, Empathy and Introspection, 25. There is no reason to suspect that this charge was a mere pretext and that what Socrates was really being prosecuted for was his antidemocratic associations and ideas. It is this extreme, radical, unreasoning democracy that Plato satirizes in the eighth book of the Republic and in the Gorgias: a democracy whose watchword is equality (Rep. 558c)-equality for unequals-equal respect for an ig- How Industry Restores Our Faith in Humanity, 06. For if you put me to death, you will not easily find another, who, to use a rather absurd figure, attaches himself to the city as a gadfly to a horse, which, though large and well bred, is sluggish on account of his size and needs to be aroused by stinging. Who is on trial here, Socrates or Athenian democracy itself? Plato argues that in a system where political power (cratos) lies in the hands of the people (demos) it is not guaranteed, in fact is unlikely, that those best equipped to rule will get a chance to manage public affairs. Falling down is not a failure. Three years later, three men, Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon, all of whom had been part of the democratic anti-Spartan resistance movement, brought charges against Socrates.