What makes a martyr a martyr?

Did Socrates know what he was getting into when he practiced his pensive personality? Perhaps it is his circumstances of his death that allowed his name to endure centuries to appear in my course work. His personality, thought process and death is well known, but only after pondering a while … (and doing a brief Google search) did I realize that Socrates actually was a martyr, but in a different sense than what I had previously held martyrs to be. Historically, martyrdom was synonymous with standing up for spirituality and religion in the face of hypocrisy and persecution. However, I see that martyrdom means accepting an unjust death for not backing down from one’s belief, whether or not that belief was preached out loud, or simply discussed.

It is certain that Socrates was willing to die for his philosophy (he even explained how escaping from jail would be against his very own beliefs and that it was contrary to his acceptance of society). He never thought that he should change or deny his ideas for others to accept him, but also, he didn’t think that his philosophy would end up killing him. In section XXVIII of the Apology (page 45), Socrates innocently states, “I am not accustomed to think that I deserve anything evil.” Socrates was not a public figure in Athens who was out to cause trouble, nor did he ever burst out in agony or distress about his society or even try to get sympathy or admiration for his point. He simply talked to and questioned people about their ideas; he was not a dramatic figure denouncing society like Martin Luther for example, rather, Socrates was an innocent conversationalist. What is more, a martyr cannot be a martyr without unjustly dying for their beliefs (the Oxford English Dictionary supports this definition). They may display displeasure with society in order for people to see their point, but this is only one path, usually taken by people who want change. Apple’s definition of a martyr is for revolutionary people, not tame people killed for their beliefs, like Socrates. A martyr is not always out to be martyred, rather, becoming one is an end result, no matter if beliefs are outwardly or dramatically propagated or not.

The above quote demonstrates that Socrates did not believe his actions deserved death; for he did not preach against the gods, or against men, but eventually defended his own beliefs in the face of persecution. This is further supported by Socrates’ defense that the Athenians “…have scarcely spoken one single word of truth,” (Section I of the Apology, page 21). Nonetheless, Socrates still accepts the verdict because, ultimately, he knows that his accusers are corrupt. He also knows injustice is occurring before him – just like the martyrs of Christendom. St. Peter accepted fate, not because he deserved death (for being an out-law, which he would’ve recognized he was since he had broken Roman law, which by the way was pagan in his eyes), but because he stood for truth. Trying to escape death would translate into denying the truth that is being stood for, which St. Peter never did, this is what made him a martyr. He never tried to show his suffering or get sympathy; he simply stood for truth.

Over three hundred years before, Socrates did the same, and this means that he must be a martyr too. A martyr consents to their unjust death because they acknowledge that their society is corrupt, obviously not realizing the truth that they themselves stand for, be it divine grace or philosophical discussion. Whether or not the truth is dramatically displayed or simply evident in their conversations, a martyr is unjustly persecuted and killed. This is what happened to Socrates; unbeknownst to him, his innocent conversations and examination crossed the unseen boundaries of Hellenic society’s rule. He was not out to be killed for his belief, but he was willing to be killed for them. After being called out and questioned, he never denied his beliefs and thus he accepted his unjust verdict, delivered to him by a morally blind jury. Never making a scene with, though dying for, his light-hearted, perambulating antics, Socrates is one of the few philosophical martyrs and perhaps it is his innocent stance that makes this such a poignant example of martyrdom.