Socrates accepted death even being falsely accused. He could choose between several alternatives to continue his physical existence and making a favor for his body. However, a great philosopher considered a human being to be more than just a flesh that can exist a couple of years more, but rather as a spiritual, thinking energy, seeking for the eternal truth. Socrates strived to find this truth and to open it for the others. The only possible way to reach this goal was to cultivate a virtuous soul as the only good a man can possess. A virtuous soul was a key to open a mysterious lurking place of the truth. Possessing a key did not mean for him dwelling in the truth or having immediate access to it, but rather being on the way and able to recognize the treasure when a perfect ability comes. He could not abandon it, just to stay blind forever, losing the last hope to reach his aim. Death could terminate his life, harm him physically, by it could benefit his ideas, his ideals, his achievements enormously, perpetuating them, foregrounding their purity and trueness.
Life as a physical process for a his soul and his ideas was like a flowerpot for a plant. It could support a seed in growing until a new plant is powerful enough to grow and propagate itself. A few more years of support could be good, still there should be a moment when a plant needs more space to prosper and no flowerpot is necessary then. Socrates realized that his ideas are already strong enough to live without him, to blossom and to bring amazing fruit. Begging for clemency would have been called pleading guilty and killing his own soul, his spiritual descendants, hope for the eternal truth and the truth itself. This was not an option from the very beginning and he realized the price he had to pay, being sure in the good he could win, making this lethal step. It was heroic, extremely rational and wise. Being able to understand and observe the world as it was without pretending and kneeling for own benefits, Socrates was a genius of spirit and wisdom and he reached the state of the eternal truth, sending an enormous charge of inspiration into the future.
References
Plato. (1997). Apology. Bolchazy-Carducci …