Many scholars believe Socrates wanted to die. One bit of evidence they use to support this is the alternate sentence he proposed at his trial. They say he could have lived had he suggested the alternate sentence of exile. Instead, he suggested he be fined, which was viewed as inadequate punishment for his alleged crimes. So he was famously forced to drink hemlock.

Let's say Socrates decided he wanted to live, so he suggested he be exiled, and that sentence was carried out. What would be different?
 

Skallagrim

Banned
A major result would be that he would be around longer, to contest any stories told about his alleged views. Many suspect that Plato, in his writings, used the figure of Sokrates to express views that we actually Plato's. Sokrates himself may have had different views. We may even see Sokrates put some of his thoughts in writing.

Additionally, it is sometimes believed that Plato's hatred of democracy stemmed in part from the fact that he believed democracy to have murdered Sokrates. With that not happening, Plato may be a bit less excessively anti-democratic.
 
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