Chapter 06
Exposing a Weak Prosecutor
I have said enough in my defence against the first class of my accusers; I turn to the second class. They are headed by Meletus, that good man and true lover of his country, as he calls himself. Against these, too, I must try to make a defence:—Let their affidavit be read: it contains something of this kind: It says that Socrates is a doer of evil, who corrupts the youth; and who does not believe in the gods of the state, but has other new divinities of his own. Such is the charge; and now let us examine the…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Meletus is a doer of evil, in that he pretends to be in earnest when he is only in jest, and is so eager to bring men to trial from a pretended zeal and interest about matters in which he really never had the smallest interest."
Context: Turning the formal charge of doing evil back on the prosecutor
Socrates reframes the trial as Meletus's failure to care about the very thing he claims to protect.
In Today's Words:
Socrates says Meletus does evil by pretending earnest concern while bringing a prosecution he never seriously examined. The charge of corrupting youth opens with the accuser's zeal exposed as performance. When someone files a serious complaint, ask whether they can name the harm and the person who should have prevented it.
"Then every Athenian improves and elevates them; all with the exception of myself; and I alone am their corrupter? Is that what you affirm? That is what I stoutly affirm."
Context: Forcing Meletus to own his absurd claim about who improves the young
One corrupter and an entire city of improvers is not a serious theory of education; it is an accusation without thought.
In Today's Words:
Meletus ends up saying every Athenian improves the youth except Socrates alone, which Socrates treats as absurd on its face. Sweeping claims that only one person does harm while everyone else does good rarely survive a single follow-up question. Use that test on any policy blame that names one villain and a spotless institution.
"One man is able to do them good, or at least not many;—the trainer of horses, that is to say, does them good, and others who have to do with them rather injure them? Is not that true, Meletus, of horses, or of any other animals? Most assuredly it is; whether you and Anytus say yes or no."
Context: Horse-training analogy showing youth improvement requires specialists
Expertise matters: many untrained handlers harm horses; Meletus has not thought about education at all.
In Today's Words:
Socrates compares youth to horses: one skilled trainer helps them, while many untrained handlers do harm. Meletus's claim that everyone improves the young except Socrates collapses against that everyday analogy. When someone says all leaders are fine except one critic, ask who actually has the training to do the job.
"You might as well affirm the existence of mules, and deny that of horses and asses."
Context: Exposing the contradiction between believing in divine agencies and denying gods
The affidavit traps itself: spiritual agencies imply gods or sons of gods, so total atheism cannot fit the same document.
In Today's Words:
Socrates says Meletus might as well affirm mules while denying horses and asses: the indictment contradicts itself on gods. It swears he believes in spiritual agencies yet Meletus also denies he can believe in spirits or demigods. Read formal charges the same way: look for two claims that cannot both be true in one packet.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Socrates uses everyday analogies (horse training) that common people understand, while exposing elite assumptions about who has authority to teach
Development
Continues the theme of challenging social hierarchies through accessible reasoning
In Your Life:
You might see this when workplace leaders assume their position gives them expertise they haven't actually earned.
Identity
In This Chapter
Socrates refuses to accept Meletus's definition of who he is, instead forcing Meletus to examine his own contradictory beliefs
Development
Builds on earlier themes of self-definition versus external labels
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when others try to define you based on limited information or assumptions.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The assumption that everyone can teach and improve youth gets challenged as unrealistic and harmful
Development
Continues questioning what society expects versus what actually works
In Your Life:
You might see this in parenting advice where everyone assumes they know what's best for your children.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Socrates demonstrates growth through learning to respond strategically rather than defensively to attacks
Development
Shows practical application of philosophical thinking to real conflicts
In Your Life:
You might apply this when learning to stay calm and think clearly during confrontations.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The dynamic between accuser and accused reveals how personal animosity can masquerade as principled concern
Development
Explores how relationships can be corrupted by hidden motivations
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when someone's criticism of you seems disproportionate to the actual issue.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
What question does Socrates ask Meletus about who improves the youth?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
If Socrates alone corrupts them, Meletus must name their improver; Meletus eventually says every Athenian improves them except Socrates.
- 2
Why does the horse-trainer analogy undermine Meletus's charge?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
One skilled trainer helps horses while many untrained handlers harm them; likewise, youth improvement requires real expertise, not universal improvement by everyone except one man.
- 3
How would you use Socrates' method on a written complaint that sounds serious but vague?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Ask who is supposed to be doing the job well, whether the harm is intentional, and where the document contradicts itself, as Socrates does with Meletus.
- 4
What contradiction does Socrates expose in the impiety portion of Meletus's affidavit?
application • deepOne way to read it
It says Socrates believes in spiritual agencies yet Meletus also claims he is a complete atheist who cannot believe in spirits or demigods, who are gods or sons of gods.
- 5
When has asking a calm follow-up question revealed that an accuser had not thought the charge through?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Meletus's silence and widening answers show he never examined the matter; a single patient question can expose the same gap in modern disputes.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Practice Strategic Questioning
Think of a recent situation where someone blamed you or made an accusation that felt unfair. Write down the accusation, then practice what Socrates does: instead of defending, create three specific questions you could have asked to examine their logic. Focus on questions that would require them to think through their position more carefully.
Consider:
- •Ask questions from genuine curiosity, not as weapons to attack back
- •Look for assumptions they haven't examined or evidence they haven't considered
- •Notice if their accusation contains contradictions like Meletus's religious charges
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you got defensive instead of asking questions. How might that situation have gone differently if you had stayed curious about their reasoning instead of immediately protecting yourself?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 7: Standing Your Ground Under Fire
Having dismantled the formal charges, Socrates shifts to a deeper truth: the real danger isn't his accusers but something far more powerful and widespread. He's about to reveal what actually threatens people like him.
