Plato. The Apology of Socrates

Background Defeat of Athens by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. The "Thirty Tyrants“. End of democracy. Defeat of the Tyrants. Return of the democrats. Suspicion that Socrates associated with some of the Tyrants, because he remained in the city. Trial takes place in 399, four years after restoration of democracy.

Background Attack of old beliefs by philosophers angered many Athenians. Science vs. Religion conflict. Questioning leads to truth. Truth in conflict with religion. Is it so? Socrates bad influence on young men. Virtue is knowledge. Elimination of ignorance leads men to virtue. The Socratic method.

Background Knowledge is attainable by actively using one’s own mind. The trial. 500 members of the jury. Apology is the speech delivered by Socrates in his own defense at his trial. Apology – statement of defense. Socrates found guilty and sentenced to death. Refused offer to escape.

Background Rejected banishment in some foreign city. Apology Written by Plato, who was present at the trial.

The Apology It is impiety to investigate the heavens and the earth. Teaches impiety to others. What is your occupation, Socrates? What is wisdom? Is Socrates wise? Delphi oracle: No one is wiser than Socrates. In trying to prove himself not to be the wisest, he proves himself to be the wisest: “What I don’t know, I don’t think I know.” Proving to others that they are not wise will make them dislike you.

The Apology The poet: inspiration vs. wisdom. Smart vs. wise. Socrates prefers not to be wise like the wisdom of others, nor ignorant like the ignorance of others. Oracle: “The one among you is wisest, mortals, who, like Socrates, has recognized that he’s truly worthless where wisdom’s concerned.” I don’t corrupt the youth. Young men follow me around of their own accord.

The Apology Those that the youth question are angry because they are proven they know nothing. They blame me. Meletus’s accusation: Socrates corrupts the youth and does not acknowledge the gods acknowledged by the city. Intentional and unintentional corruption. Questioning of Meletus, one of his accusers, on the existence of gods.

The Apology Acknowledging daimonic activities implied acknowledging the existence of gods. Daimons – lesser gods, divinized mortals. “Why are you involved in an occupation that puts you at risk of death?” Remember the story of Petroclus, Achilles and Hector?

The Apology “Wherever someone has stationed himself because he thinks it best, or wherever he’s been stationed by his commander, there, it seems to me, he should remain, steadfast in danger, taking no account at all of death or anything else, in comparison to what’s shameful.” The god stationed me here. “Fearing death, gentlemen, is nothing more than thinking one is wise when one is not…perhaps death is the greatest goods for people…”

The Apology We’ll let you go if you stop practicing philosophy. Socrates: I’ll obey the god rather than you. I won’t give up practicing philosophy. You take care to acquire wealth, but what about wisdom and truth? Take care of your soul. No greater good has come about in the city than my service to the god. How? If you put me to death you will harm yourselves more than you will harm me. How?

The Apology Don’t commit a great wrong against the god’s gift to you by condemning me. I am a gadfly that awakens a sluggish horse. You will spend the rest of your lives asleep unless the god sends you someone else like me. I offer myself for questioning to anyone. Is it my fault if some of those did not turn out well? I question, I do not teach anyone anything

Reply to guilty verdict I am not resentful. Surprised at the number of votes (280-220). I’m guilty because I didn’t care about the same things most people care about: money, political office, etc. I am to propose a penalty that I truly deserve. “Since I’m convinced that I’ve done injustice to no one, however, I’m certainly not likely to do myself injustice, to announce that I deserve something bad and to propose a penalty of that sort for myself.”

Reply to guilty verdict Should I propose exile? I’ll get kicked out of every city. I’m 70 years old. Keep quiet and mind your business and you won’t get kicked out. “The unexamined life isn’t worth living for a human being.” Jury decides for death.

Final statement “I’ve been convicted for being unwilling to say the sorts of things, and doing and saying many other things I claim are unworthy of me.” “Whether in a trial or in a war, neither I nor anyone else should contrive to escape death at all costs.” “Perhaps, things had to turn out this way, and I suppose it’s good they did.” How? “As soon as I am dead vengeance will come upon you, and it will be much harsher than the vengeance you take in killing me.”

Final statement “If you imagine that by killing people you’ll prevent anyone from reproaching you for not living in the right way, you are not thinking straight.” “When my sons come of age, gentlemen, punish them by harassing them in the very same way that I harassed you, if they seem to you to take care of wealth or anything before virtue.” “But now it’s time to leave, I to die and you to live. Which of us goes to the better place, however, is unclear to everyone except the god.