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Why did Socratesâ association with Alcibiades and Critias make Athenians suspicious of him?
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Socrates
Herm of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, from a Greek original, second half of the 4th century bce; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.
Socratesâ association with Alcibiades and Critias fueled suspicion among Athenians because both men were prominent figures who actively undermined the cityâs democracy and religious customs, leading many to view Socrates as a dangerous influence on the youth.123
- Alcibiades: A brilliant but unscrupulous politician, Alcibiades was involved in major religious scandals in 415 BCE, including the mutilation of statues of Hermes and the profanation of the Eleusinian Mysteries. His later betrayal of Athens to Sparta during the Peloponnesian War made his connection to Socrates particularly damaging.14
- Critias: As a leader of the Thirty Tyrantsâthe brutal, antidemocratic regime installed by Sparta in 404 BCEâCritias was directly responsible for crimes against the state.13
Because Athenian democracy felt fragile following these political upheavals, jurors viewed Socratesâ role as a teacher or mentor to such men as evidence that he corrupted the youth and fostered disrespect for the cityâs institutions. His public admiration for Spartan ways further reinforced the perception that he was an enemy of the democratic order.235