In his trial, Socrates chose to be executed rather than to cease practicing philosophy because:
A) he held the examination of human nature, thought, and belief to be more important than mere survival.
B) at the age of 70, he had nothing left to write.
C) he preferred death to life in a society that had rejected him.
D) he wanted to show the injustice of the Athenian judicial system.
E) he mistakenly believed his jailers wouldn't actually carry out the sentence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Throughout his life, Socrates was committed to the pursuit of truth and knowledge as the highest good, and believed that philosophy was a means of achieving this. He believed that inquiry into human nature, thought, and belief was more important than mere survival, so he chose to continue practicing philosophy even though it led to his execution.

In His Trial, Socrates Chose to Be Executed Rather Than