Socrates

The Meletus in Jon Stewart’s story is Bill O’Reilly, with whom Jon Stewart has debated and fought with because he goes against all the of O’Reilly’s debates. In an interview about Stewart’s last show, O’Reilly commented that,

“Jon Stewart is being held captive by a self-imposed left wing view of society that appeals to an audience of young stoners and aging guys with ponytails… You can reason with him when he’s sober, although there are certain individuals that drive him crazy and he gives them no quarter. In that he’s human. So the departure of every hairstylist’s poster guy will leave a void in the world of political satire. Undeniably, Jon Stewart was great at what he did. Whatever that was.”

O’Reilly really represents Meletus well because as the Contemporary Socrates he was, Stewart has challenged O’Reilly’s core beliefs as a Republican and several times in their debates, Stewart has proven him logically wrong. For example, in a debate about white privilege in the US, Stewart says “I want you to admit that there is such a thing as white privilege … I just want you to say that I’m terribly, terribly wrong on this.” To which, O’Reilly replies with “If you work hard, get educated, and you’re an honest person, you can make it in America.” And Stewart replies with “If you live in a neighborhood, where poverty is endemic, it’s harder to work hard, it’s harder to get an education.” This sort of simple logic wrapped up the debate because it was the answer that was morally correct and anything O’Reilly said after that was not really viewed as relevant anymore. This is similar to Socrates’ cross examination of Meletus when Socrates questions, “Then every Athenian improves and elevates them; all with the exception of myself; and I alone am their corrupter? Is that what you affirm?” and Meletus replies, “That is what I stoutly affirm.” To this Socrates eloquently argues,

“I am very unfortunate if that is true…Does one man do all harm and all the world good? Is not the...