The theme of the Apology is that "one should never betray one's philosophy for any reason, even if the reason is death." Socrates maintained his “commitment to the truth” even if it meant death. Socrates believes that he will obtain the truth through death. After all, it would be illogical to fear death which is the unknown. How can you fear something you don't even know? Doing the right thing is always more important than dying, as Martin Luther believed. He had said that one has a moral responsibility to obey just laws and to disobey unjust laws.1 This essay will argue that one does not have an obligation to obey unjust laws which is a valid rule of the political authority in which one finds oneself physically. A valid rule of the legal system is justified because it is created for the good of the general public.2 Political authority can be defined as the State that enacts and maintains laws which the general public obeys because they accept it as the authority that gives state power. Under certain circumstances, law or political authority may be disobeyed. Democracy seems to be the most justifiable political authority to hold. This essay will first analyze what a political authority is. It will distinguish political authority from political power and a just law from an unjust law. He will discuss Socrates' attitude towards death. Political authority must be differentiated from political power. Political power would be1. “Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]”2. Authority, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophybe “deals with the ability of the state or any agent to induce others to act in the desired way even when the subject does not want to do what the agent wants it to do.” 3 An example could be the history of Russia. Russia used to... middle of paper... mutual respect. Compared to Plato's Republic, democracy may not be ideal, but it seems to be the most justifiable political authority to hold. Democracy represents the people. It represents the point of view of the people who elect them. “The interests, rights and opinions” of most people in society are taken into account.7 People have freedom of speech and expression. They are free to criticize their own government. Democracy is considered the “best decision making method” as it is more reliable as many people come to the right decision.8 Due to the large amount of minds put together, many sources, information and critical analysis is put into the decision making process. People have a say in managing the state, economy and society to create a more balanced environment. Human rights are respected.7,8. Democracy, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy