Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander, The Aftermath of the Peloponnesian War, Socrates' Guilt by Association

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Socrates' Guilt by Association

Athenians with qualms about Socrates found confirmation of their fears in the careers of Alcibiades¹ and, especially, Critias, one of the Thirty Tyrants². Socrates's critics blamed him for Alcibiades's contempt for social conventions because Alcibiades had been one of Socrates's most devoted followers. Critias, another prominent follower, played a leading role in the murder and plunder perpetrated by the Thirty Tyrants in 404-403 B.C. In blaming Socrates for the crimes of Critias³, Socrates's detractors chose to overlook his defiance of the Thirty Tyrants when they had tried to involve him in their violent schemes and his utter rejection of the immorality Critias had displayed.

1 Plat. Sym. 212, Dem. 61.45, Plat. Alc. 1.103, Plut. Alc. 7.3, Plut. Alc. 7.4, Plut. Alc. 1 ff, Other references to Alcibiades

2 Xen. Hell. 2.3.11

3 Xen. Hell. 2.3.15, Aeschin. 1.173, Xen. Hell. 2.3.51, Xen. Hell. 2.4.9, Xen. Mem. 1.2.24, Xen. Mem. 1.2.30, Xen. Mem. 1.2.31, Plat. Criti. 106a, Other references to Critias

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Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander

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Socrates' Guilt by Association