Recognized as one of the classical Athenian Greek philosophers who founded Western philosophy, Socrates was a mysterious figure known essentially through the accounts of later classical writers, particularly the writings of his students Xenophon and the more popular Plato. Through Plato's dialogues, Socrates was portrayed and renowned for his involvement in the field of moral principles, and from this the concepts of Socratic irony and Socratic method were born. With Socrates' pedagogy, you can ask a series of questions not only to get individual answers, but also to persuade you to deeply understand the real issues at hand. His result remains a frequently used tool in a wide range of discussions. The trial of Socrates was based on two disreputable and vague accusations that proved unwelcome to Greek culture; corruption of youth and impiety. To be more specific about impiety, Socrates' accusers mention two impious acts: the introduction of new deities and the failure to recognize the city's recognized gods. In the first part, Socrates is in a conversation with Euthyphro, who is a professional priest, as they go to court for Socrates' trial. Euthyphro was going to court because he was going to prosecute his father for killing one of his servants who was also a murderer who had killed another fellow slave of his. Being accused of impiety and having with him a priest who claims to know what piety is, Socrates takes the opportunity to learn from Euthyphro what piety really is. The first definition of piety that Euthyphro responds to is what he is doing now, which is prosecuting his father and seeing that justice is done and what he is doing to his father is pious. Socrates does not... middle of paper... ultimately does no harm to himself or to those who live around him. With the other accusation of Socrates that he believes in strange spirits and not in the gods of the state, he traps Meletus into saying that the spirits are the children of the gods. Socrates was ultimately found guilty by a majority vote of several hundred jurors. He jokingly suggested that if this is what he deserves, then he should be served a great meal. Socrates then argued that rather than be imprisoned and exiled, perhaps he should pay a fine but he had little funds to pay the fine and with his proposal the judges voted for the death penalty. The judges decided the death sentence by drinking hemlock. Socrates concludes his apology by saying that he cannot bear a grudge against those who accused him and asks them to look after his three children as they grow older by ensuring that they put goodness before selfish interests.