Part 4/11:
This dichotomy extends to his ultimate fate. Socrates was often viewed as both the gadfly of Athenian democracy and a misfit who, despite being respected for his intellect, struggled to conform to societal norms. His surprising demise—despite living through tumultuous periods of Athenian history—suggests a man both insightful and oblivious, ultimately paying the price for his philosophical stance in a society less engaged in self-questioning than in preserving status quo.