Final answer:
The untrue statement about Socrates' trial and death is that he fled to Sparta and was executed there; he was actually executed in Athens after being sentenced to death. He refused an escape plan, choosing instead to drink poison and die as a martyr for his philosophy.
Thus option c is. correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is NOT TRUE regarding the trial and death of Socrates is: C. Socrates was found guilty and fled to Sparta where he was executed simply for being an Athenian. In fact, Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and not believing in the city's gods, which led to his trial.
After being found guilty, he was sentenced to death and given the option to escape, which he famously refused, thereby willingly accepting his punishment. This act of refusing to flee is seen as Socrates' commitment to his principles and the laws of Athens. Socrates did not flee to Sparta; instead, he willingly drank the poison hemlock in his jail cell in Athens as a means to honor his convictions and the Athenian legal process.
Socrates' defense is detailed in Plato's works, including the Apology, which outlines his arguments against the accusations and his unwillingness to abandon his search for wisdom. In another dialogue, the Crito, Socrates discusses with his friend Crito, the reasons why he should not attempt an escape. His commitment to his ideals and his stance are also discussed in the Phaedo, highlighting his belief in the immortality of the soul and his contemplation on what comes after death.
Thus option c is. correct answer.