Socrates' Last Stand: The Trial's Lasting Lessons

Course Description
While the trial of Socrates happened well before the advent of Instagram, and the tweets from that time period are somewhat limited, the impact on the legal system was and continues to be significant.  Socrates was on trial for corrupting the minds of the youth. His defense, and the issues pertaining to his trial, permeate our legal culture even to this day. In this class, we will learn the importance of public trials, trials by jury, the importance of academic freedom and controlling freedom of thought.  This class will prove one thing – the more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

This On-Demand Course is Approved in the Following States
Arkansas, 2.0 general hours, expires 06/30/2026
California, 2.0 general hours, no expiration date
Georgia, 2.0 general hours, expires 12/31/2025
Kansas, 2.0 general hours, expires 11/20/2026
Indiana, 2.0 general hours, expires 11/19/2026
Louisiana, 2.0 general hours, expires 11/20/2026
New Mexico, 2.0 general hours, no expiration date
North Carolina, 2.0 general hours, expires 02/28/2026
Pennsylvania, 2.0 general hours, no expiration date
South Carolina, 2.0 general hours, expires 12/31/2025
Tennessee, 2.0 general hours, expires 11/25/2026

 

This On-Demand Course Qualifies for Credit in the Following States
New Jersey - view their statement on reciprocity, by scrolling down to "Does New Jersey accept CLE credits from other mandatory CLE jurisdictions?" - https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/cle/faq#500166
New York - view their "Approved Jurisdiction" policy here: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/attorneys/cle/approvedjurisdictions.shtml

 

Terms and Conditions
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The Trial of Socrates (2 hours)

In 399 BCE, Socrates, revered as one of history’s greatest philosophers, was tried in Athens for corrupting the youth and impiety by introducing new deities. Beneath these charges lay a deeper conflict: a clash between Athens’ pure democracy, where the people held sway, and the Socratic critique that echoed the Spartan ideal of rule by enlightened "philosopher kings." Prosecutors accused Socrates of poisoning young minds with ideas that challenged the democratic system, revealing a tension between unfettered majority rule and the pursuit of reasoned governance. This CLE explores how Socrates’ trial illuminates this enduring struggle, which continues to shape modern legal systems. We will examine the trial’s impact on public trials, jury systems, academic freedom, and the regulation of free thought, while drawing parallels to contemporary debates over democracy versus expertise in law and governance. Join us to discover how this ancient case proves that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Speaker Information
Joel Oster  [ view bio ]
Individual topic purchase: Selected
New Mexico
General: 2.00
Expires 11/25/2026
Pennsylvania
General: 2.00
No Expiration Date
California
General: 2.00
No Expiration Date
New Jersey
General: 2.00
Reciprocity
New York
Skills: 2.00
Credit Through Approved Jurisdiction Policy
Indiana
General: 2.00
Expires 11/19/2026
Georgia
General: 2.00
Expires 12/31/2025
Arkansas
General: 2.00
Expires 06/30/2026
Kansas
General: 2.00
Expires 11/20/2026
North Carolina
General: 2.00
Expires 02/28/2026
South Carolina
General: 2.00
Expires 12/31/2025
Tennessee
General: 2.00
Expires 11/25/2026
Louisiana
General: 2.00
Expires 11/20/2026
The Trial of Socrates (2 hours)
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2 Hour On-Demand Course
Comedian of Law Price:$129.00