Final answer:
Socrates was disliked by the Athenian government because his Socratic method challenged traditional beliefs, embarrassed influential citizens, and was seen as a threat to democratic values and the social order.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Athenian government was wary of Socrates for several reasons. Firstly, his method of teaching, the Socratic method, involved relentless questioning which often led to the realization that many supposed experts did not truly understand the subjects they claimed to be knowledgeable about. This embarrassed many influential people. Secondly, his dialectical method was different from the then-prevailing educational norms which were based on rhetoric and persuasion, often provided by the sophists for a fee. Using reason rather than persuasion as a basis for truth, Socrates was viewed as disrespectful to traditional beliefs and potentially threatening to democratic ideals.
Furthermore, Socrates' indifference to who he associated with, including people from various social classes and backgrounds, posed a threat to the existing social order. His line of questioning went against the very foundation of Athenian democracy and politics, implying that there were fixed and stable truths superior to the existing democratic rule. This challenge to conventional wisdom and politics, along with his association with controversial figures, fueled distrust among the authorities. That distrust eventually led to his trial and execution on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth.