His Witnesses Are Here in the Room

Socrates makes a powerful logical point. If he has truly been corrupting the youth of Athens for thirty years, there should be evidence. Where are the victims?

I have never been a formal teacher. I never took students, never charged fees, never promised to make anyone better. People were free to come listen to my conversations if they wanted. Some did. Some did not. Some of them turned out well. Some did not. I cannot be held responsible for what free people chose to do with free conversations.

If I have been corrupting the young people of Athens for thirty years, where are the people I corrupted? They would be grown adults by now. Why are they not here, standing up to say what I did to them?

Look around this courtroom. The people here to support me include Crito, who has known me his whole life. His son Critobulus. Lysanias. Antiphon. Plato himself is here today, brother of Adeimantus.

These are the fathers and brothers of the young men I supposedly ruined. They came here to speak for me.

If I had destroyed their sons and brothers, do you think they would be here defending me? They are here because they know the truth. Meletus is lying.