In 399BC, the most famous trial in history was held in AthensOne of the great city-states of the ancient world and the birthplace of democracy.. In the dock, the philosopher SocratesConsidered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason.. Standing in judgement, 501 jurors, selected by lotMost officials in the Athenian system of democracy were not elected, but chosen randomly through a process of sortition. This was to avoid corrupt vote-buying and demagoguery..

Socrates faced two charges: "impietyA lack of respect for something sacred." and "corrupting the youth". He used the platform to deliver a speech in defence of philosophical wisdom. He declared he was wise not because of what he knew, but because he knew that he knew nothing.

The great thinker would likely have got away with a fine. But when asked what his penalty should be, he joked he should receive free dinners for life. The jury ordered he be put to death.

This clash of philosophical wisdom and popular outrage is the subject of a new play, Cancelling Socrates. It draws comparisons between Socrates' time and modern free speech, suggesting like the Athenians, we are too quick to punish controversial opinions.

The story of Socrates as a persecuted victim of an intolerant mob has always been appealing. It is viewed as the first chapter in a long struggle between enlightenment and superstition.

So was this a case of a free thinker being lynched by an ancient "woke mob"? Some point out that Socrates was already deeply controversial for his political connections.

In 404BC, Athens had lost the Peloponnesian WarA long and bloody war fought between Sparta, Athens and the allies of each side. Sparta ultimately triumphed, but the war tipped the whole Greek world into decline, and both powers would soon succumb to Macedonia and then Rome. against SpartaAnother of the great classical city-states, best known for its uncompromising martial culture.. The victorious Spartans had abolished the Athenians' democratic system and replaced it with a repressive oligarchyA system of government in which a small elite rules..

This brutal regime killed around 5% of the Athenian population, confiscated much of its property and forced democrats into exile. Many members of this new government had been students of Socrates.

The Thirty Tyrants were overthrown after 13 months, but Athenians were left bruised. It is hardly surprising they were suspicious of Socrates and his influence on the young men of Athens.

It did not help that Socrates had expressed anti-democratic views. He was an elitist who believed the majority opinion was usually wrong. True wisdom, he thought, belonged to a very few, and they should be the ones entrusted with decision-making.

From this perspective, the trial of Socrates is not an intolerant crowd murdering an innocent philosopher because his views were too enlightened for them, but a wary, brutalised people seeking to clip the wings of a proto-fascist who was out to destroy their democracy.

Yes:  Whichever way you view it, Socrates was persecuted for having controversial ideas. We must be very wary of following the example of the ancient Athenians, who strangled the intellectual life of their city.

No: Socrates was an enemy of the state, complicit in the savage repression of his fellow citizens. He was linked with brutal authoritarian regimes. He had to be silenced for the sake of preserving freedom.

Or... Socrates was not really silenced by the city. He could easily have fled before the sentence was carried out. He chose to be silenced, so his ideas would live on.