Question

what does this mean....to a degree academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience.

Answer 1

It means that the right to learn is given today because he fought against people not being able to get the learning experience they should have.

Answer 2

To a degree academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience . This is an allusion. Socrates disobeyed laws that were not fair, which made it so students today can think freely (and possibly differently than their teachers).