Moral Integrity Theme Analysis

Socrates believes so strongly in preserving his moral standards that he’s willing to sacrifice his own safety and wellbeing on their behalf. Although the jury threatens him with the death penalty, he refuses to betray his values, instead using his unfortunate situation as an opportunity to teach others the importance of moral integrity. In turn, he demonstrates his unfailing confidence in the way he lives his life. After all, he has been brought to court in the first place because he isn’t afraid to voice unpopular opinions that challenge his fellow Athenians. As such, it would be out of step with his entire mode of being if he were to suddenly undermine his moral certitude by absolving himself and telling the jury what it wants to hear. What’s more, when he argues that he shouldn’t be sentenced to death, he doesn’t do so for his own benefit—for that would go against his values—but rather for the benefit of all Athenians, saying that he is delivering his defense because he doesn’t want the jury to commit an immoral and harmful act by executing him. In this way, he not only demonstrates his integrity, but also forces the jury to reckon with its own duty to set forth an unflawed model of justice. By making this argument, he proves that true moral integrity means acting ethically not only as an individual, but also as a member of society.

Socrates makes it overwhelmingly clear in his defense that he will not betray his values. Although the accusations made against him by Meletus and Anytus put him in grave danger, he refuses to accept the idea that he has behaved immorally by encouraging Athenians to question their ways. In other words, even under threat of death, he acts according to his moral compass. “This is the truth of the matter, Men of Athens: wherever a man has taken a position that he believes to be best, or has been placed by his commander, there he must I think remain and face danger without a thought for death or anything else, rather than disgrace,” he says. Although he goes on to reference several military battles, it’s worth considering his idea of being “placed” in a certain position by a “commander.” In this case, this “commander” is no doubt the god at Delphi, whose insight about the nature of wisdom Socrates has spread throughout Athens. Indeed, Socrates believes that “there is no greater blessing for the city than [his] service to the god”—a service he renders by enlightening his fellow Athenians despite the fact that people like Meletus and Anytus want to execute him for doing so. Death, Socrates argues, is not something a person should think about when considering the most moral or virtuous way to act. As such, he does not apologize in court for his actions, thereby proving the strength of his moral integrity.

Not only does Socrates insist that the threat of death will not make him recant his ways, he also upholds that he will continue to enforce his values if the jury acquits him. He explains Anytus’s belief that, now that Socrates has been brought to court, the jury “cannot avoid executing” him. “For if I should be acquitted,” he says, “your sons would practice the teachings of Socrates and all be thoroughly corrupted.” This, it seems, is one of his accusers’ greatest fears: that he will “corrupt” the youth. However, Socrates believes so adamantly in the morality of his “teachings” that he refuses to give them up under any circumstances.

To illustrate this point, he says, “If you said to me in this regard: ‘Socrates, we do not believe Anytus now; we acquit you, but only on condition that you spend no more time on this investigation and do not practice philosophy […] I would say to you: ‘Men of Athens, I am grateful and I am your friend, but I will obey the god rather than you, and as long as I draw breath and am able, I shall not cease to practice philosophy […].” This, Socrates insists, is because he believes his ideas benefit society, and though his detractors disagree, nothing—except, perhaps, a divine sign to the contrary—will stop him from rendering this service to the community.

Socrates’s commitment to improving society becomes all the more apparent when he suggests that he’s only defending himself to preserve the jury’s moral integrity. “I am far from making a defense now on my own behalf, as might be thought, but on yours,” he says, “to prevent you from wrongdoing by mistreating the god’s gift to you by condemning me; for if you kill me you will not easily find another like me.” Going on, he implies that Athenians need someone who will challenge them to improve like he himself has challenged them. Indeed, Socrates cares so strongly about the welfare of his fellow Athenians that he is willing to risk his own life and reputation in order to help them see their own flaws, and this is something very few people are prepared to do.

As such, Socrates sacrifices himself for the very people who now seek to punish him, seeing his trial not as an opportunity to save himself, but as an opportunity to teach the jury the value of moral integrity. This is why he calls no witnesses to testify on his behalf, nor does he break down in tears and apologize for his actions. In the name of teaching the jury important moral lessons, he says, “It is not difficult to avoid death, gentleman: it is much more difficult to avoid wickedness.” Indeed, this “wickedness” is what Socrates has tried so hard to help his community members avoid, a selfless effort that—above all—underlines the importance of contributing to society’s overall morality, even when this means standing in opposition to the community’s prevailing beliefs or practices.