Abstract

The paper’s aim is to explain the crucial aspects of the close relationship of an Athenian citizen of the classical era to his city-state. It gives a brief historical outline of the democratic institutions in Athens as established after Ephialtes’ reforms of the Athenian constitution in 462. Further, it exemplifies the political system in question on Socrates’ relationship to his city-state, as presented in Plato’s Criton. Finally, it considers the grounds of Socrates’ being sentenced to death by the Athenian democratic tribunal, arguing that the heroic death of Socrates was an inevitable consequence of his philosophical creed, to which he adhered all his life.The paper’s aim is to explain the crucial aspects of the close relationship of an Athenian citizen of the classical era to his city-state. It gives a brief historical outline of the democratic institutions in Athens as established after Ephialtes’ reforms of the Athenian constitution in 462. Further, it exemplifies the political system in question on Socrates’ relationship to his city-state, as presented in Plato’s Criton. Finally, it considers the grounds of Socrates’ being sentenced to death by the Athenian democratic tribunal, arguing that the heroic death of Socrates was an inevitable consequence of his philosophical creed, to which he adhered all his life