In or around 1978 a bright promising student of mine thanked me for my style of teaching by presenting a very fine edition of THE COLLECTED DIALOGUES OF PLATO.
In APOLOGEIA which is the title of the first dialogue Socrates at the advsnced age of 70 years rises to speak in his own defense (apology) against the Indictment brought against him.
In my paraphrase this is the gist of his immortal answer to the Athenian Council-
I rise to answer the charge of teaching young people to question the authority of the gods and of the government of the city, of their parents, and in general of radical theories alien to the Athenian way of life.
I am in fact guilty only of asking each person I meet to examine their own life and see if they truly obey the gods; to see if the politicians, the businessmen at the Market, and the Military warmakers if what they do actually is the right way to go.
I am guilty only of living a philosophical life seeking wisdom, not money, seeking peace and not conflict, if this be atheism zi plead guilty as charged.
In the years I have lived I have found comfort in the Defense the wise man Socrates made of his life.
The Council suggested perhaps Socrates would agree to quit stirring people up-but they knew this would never happen. They executed him and continued their evil ways.
Me-how do I feel about it?
Oh friend that crowd that killed Socrates and later many other great teachers-they buried me long, long ago…go on…live quietly…think as you are commanded…it’s all right, Ma,,,,shhhh…go along now and worry no more.