Central Themes
- Knowledge: Knowledge is one of the main themes of The Apology. ...
- Dedication to society: In The Apology Socrates professes his dedication to enlightening the people of Athens. ...
- Right and Wrong: The Apology is about society condemning Socrates for corrupting the youth of Athens. ...
What is the summary of the apology by Plato?
The main idea of Plato's Apology is that the judges who condemned Socrates to death, and the climate of opinion in Athens that led to the charges against Socrates, were unjust and untrue. In the Apology, Plato argues that Socrates, not the judges and not Athens, represent the truth. What is Plato trying to accomplish by writing the apology?
What is important about Plato's Apology?
Platos Apology Importance
- Plato Is One Of The Greatest And Well Known Philosophers. Plato is one of the greatest and well known philosophers of all time. ...
- Similarities Between The Prince And Machiavelli. ...
- Aristophanes In The Clouds And Plato In The Apology. ...
- The Message Of Love : The Gospel Of Matthew. ...
- Plato's Philosophy in Apology. ...
- Plato 's Euthyphro And Apology
Why does Plato feel that Socrates was a sophist?
Plato would be inspired by Socrates to take up the challenge and find answers to the questions that were most basic and most in need of answering in the quest after wisdom and the GOOD. Socrates could debate with Sophists and do quite well. Socrates was skilled in the art of reasoning.
What does Platos say about politics?
Plato believes that conflicting interests of different parts of society can be harmonized. The best, rational and righteous, political order, which he proposes, leads to a harmonious unity of society and allows each of its parts to flourish, but not at the expense of others.
What is the apology and why was it written?
The Apology is Plato's recounting of Socrates's defense at this trial for atheism and corruption of the youth of Athens. Plato wrote the Apology to...
What is the main idea of the Apology by Plato?
The main idea of Plato's Apology is that the judges who condemned Socrates to death, and the climate of opinion in Athens that led to the charges a...
What is Plato trying to accomplish by writing the apology?
Plato's Apology is his defense of Socrates. In the Apology, Plato re-tells the speeches of Socrates to the judges at his trial. Plato's purpose i...
What is Socrates' conversation with Meletus?
In a famous passage, Socrates likens himself to a gadfly stinging the lazy horse which is the Athenian state.
What did Socrates say when the jury rejected his suggestion and sentenced him to death?
When the jury rejects his suggestion and sentences him to death, Socrates stoically accepts the verdict with the observation that no one but the gods know what happens after death and so it would be foolish to fear what one does not know.
Why did Socrates say he must be wiser than other men?
Recognizing his ignorance in most worldly affairs, Socrates concluded that he must be wiser than other men only in that he knows that he knows nothing. In order to spread this peculiar wisdom, Socrates explains that he considered it his duty to question supposed "wise" men and to expose their false wisdom as ignorance.
What did Socrates claim without him?
Without him, Socrates claims, the state is liable to drift into a deep sleep, but through his influence--irritating as it may be to some--it can be wakened into productive and virtuous action. Socrates is found guilty by a narrow margin and is asked to propose a penalty.
What is Plato's apology?
Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates' speech, however, is by no means an "apology" in our modern understanding of the word.
What is Socrates' speech?
Socrates' speech, however, is by no means an "apology" in our modern understanding of the word. The name of the dialogue derives from the Greek "apologia," which translates as a defense, or a speech made in defense. Thus, in The Apology, Socrates attempts to defend himself and his conduct--certainly not to apologize for it.
Who is the man who interrogated Socrates?
He cites their contempt as the reason for his being put on trial. Socrates then proceeds to interrogate Meletus, the man primarily responsible for bringing Socrates before the jury. This is the only instance in The Apology of the elenchus, or cross-examination, which is so central to most Platonic dialogues.
What does Meletus say about Socrates?
Meletus in effect claims that Socrates both believes in no gods and that he believes in false gods.
How did the jury of 501 Athenian citizens proceed to find Socrates guilty?
The jury of 501 Athenian citizens proceed to find Socrates guilty by a vote of 281 to 220. The system required the prosecution to propose a penalty and the defense to propose an alternative penalty. Socrates' accusers propose death.
What is Plato's apology?
Plato's Apology is one of the most famous and admired texts in world literature. It offers what many scholars believe is a fairly reliable account of what the Athenian philosopher Socrates (469 BCE - 399 BCE) said in court on the day that he was tried and condemned to death on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth.
Why can't Socrates stop doing philosophy?
He even rejects the idea of staying in Athens and keeping his mouth shut. He can't stop doing philosophy, he says, because "the unexamined life is not worth living.". Perhaps in response to the urgings of his friends, Socrates eventually proposes a fine, but the damage was done.
What was Socrates' first proposal?
His first proposal is that, since he's an asset to the city, he should receive free meals at the prytaneum, an honor usually given to Olympic athletes. This outrageous suggestion probably sealed his fate. But Socrates is defiant. He rejects the idea of exile.
What is Socrates' defense?
Socrates' real defense: a defense of the philosophical life. The heart of the Apology is Socrates' account of the way he has lived his life. He recounts how his friend Chaerephon once asked the Delphic Oracle if anyone was wiser than Socrates. The Oracle said that no -one was.
When did Socrates overthrow the tyrants?
And Socrates had at one time been friendly with some of them. When the thirty tyrants were overthrown in 403 BCE and democracy was restored in Athens, it was agreed that no-one should be prosecuted for things done during the war or during the reign of the tyrants.
How does Socrates defend himself?
With respect to the first charge, corrupting the youth, Socrates defends himself by getting Meletus to admit that the whole of Athens—everyone in the city-state—improves the youth with the exception of Socrates, which is their sole corrupter.
What is the meaning of apology in Greek?
So, in this text, Socrates is being charged with corrupting the youth and impiety; however, the impiety charge eventually shifts over to atheism. The Apology is Socrates’ defense of the charges he’s facing.
Why does Socrates fear death?
This is because it assumes that one knows something about death when such knowledge is impossible to obtain . All of your experiences come from life and living, not from death. Death is the end of experience, so it cannot be experienced; it cannot be faced. Thus, it is presumptuous to think that I possess some knowledge about death. In this sense, perhaps Socrates is wiser than his neighbors (and the oracle was right); he knows that he knows nothing about death and recognizes his limitations as a human being.
What happens after Socrates' answer?
After an answer or definition is given, Socrates gets his peer to agree to a statement, which contradicts their original statement. Next his peer offers up an alternative definition, which is closer to the truth, but is still shown by Socrates to be faulty.
How is Plato's work delivered?
Plato’s works are delivered in the form of dialogues. The first time you read a Plato text, it can be a bit disorienting. Yet, once you realize the importance of tracking Socrates and the speakers, it is an interesting way to experience philosophical ideas. It is almost as if you are an observer of a conversation that is unfolding.
What is Socrates' defense?
Socrates’ Defense: Let’s turn now to the essay that traces his appearance in court, which is recorded by Plato in a work titled, his Apology. The actual title is in Greek, so this is translated to English. However, apology in English involves something like atonement. The Greek word translates more appropriately to defend.
What is the Delphic Oracle?
Delphic Oracle: Socrates’ philosophy activity is traceable to the Delphic Oracle. This oracle is where everyone would go to find answers from the god Apollo. If you’ve read Oedipus the King, this is the same oracle that informed Oedipus’ of his tragic fate.
Plato&Socrates Excellence in Virtue
great deal about him from one of his students, Plato. It is in Plato’s report of Socrates’ trial a work entitled, Apology, and a friend’s visit to his jail cell while he is awaiting his death in Crito, that we discover a man like no other.
The Passion Of Perpetua And Felicity And The Crito By Plato
hold the theme of the unpopular opinion, which is their personal belief, verses the popular opinion, the state’s belief.
Machiavelli And Plato 's The Prince Essay
kingdom’s people would not have to suffer. Plato who wrote Socrates’ Apology, simply saw all the same people conforming to the same belief without really having any thought or choice in what they believed in. This paper will seek to accomplish how these two were accomplishing similar things, with different goals.
Examining Views Of Philosophy : The Allegory Of The Cave, The Apology Of Socrates And Voltaire 's The Essay
EXAMINING VIEWS OF PHILOSOPHY A FELLOW STUDENT UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE Abstract This essay examines three brief works that introduce core concepts of philosophy. Comparisons are drawn between Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave, The Apology of Socrates and Voltaire’s The Story of the good Brahmin.
Socrates : The Suicide Of Socrates
According to Plato’s records, Socrates served in an armored infantry known as the hoplite . He served in three military campaigns, Delium, Amphipolis, and Potidaea during the Peloponnesian War, where he saved the life of Alcibiades, a popular Athenian general. Socrates’
Plato And Aristophanes And Plato's Apology Of Socrates
In the play “Plato’s Apology of Socrates” and “Plato’s Crito”, Plato and Aristophanes convince their reader that years of traveling, learning and observation have allowed Socrates to make a strong and compelling argument about why he’s a valuable asset to the Athenian society, and through numerous discussions and actions Socrates has proved how citizens can help make a just Athenian society.
The Apology: The Understanding of the Soul in Life and Death Essay
Four main themes are the most important in the assigned section of The Apology. I will begin with a brief synopsis of each major theme, with an analysis and my opinion following, and ending with the question of Socrates' own death. Firstly, Plato introduces the important concept that it is far worse for one to do wrong than to suffer wrongdoing.
What is the theme of Socrates' apology?
The first sentence of his speech establishes the theme of the dialogue — that philosophy begins with an admission of ignorance . Socrates later clarifies that point of philosophy when he says that whatever wisdom he possesses comes from knowing that he knows nothing (23b, 29b).
What is the Apology of Socrates?
As such, Plato's Apology of Socrates is an early philosophic defence of Socrates, presente d in the form of a Socratic dialogue. Although Aristotle later classified it as a genre of fiction, it is still a useful historical source about Socrates (469–399 BC) the philosopher. Aristotle believed the dialogue, particularly the scene where Socrates questions Meletus, represented a good use of interrogation.
What were Socrates' accusations?
In his defence at trial, Socrates faced two sets of accusations: (i) asebeia ( impiety) against the pantheon of Athens, by introducing new gods; and (ii) corruption of Athenian youth, by teaching them to doubt the status quo . Socrates says to the court that these old accusations arise from years of gossip and prejudice against him; hence, are matters difficult to address. He then reformulates the diffuse accusations from the orators against him into the proper legal form: "Socrates is committing an injustice, in that he inquires into things below the earth and in the sky; and makes the weaker argument the stronger; and teaches others to follow his example" (19b-c).
What did Socrates think of young men?
Socrates thought that the arguments of the men he examined were wanting, and when he said this, to not lose face, they would restate stock accusations against Socrates; that he is a morally abominable man who corrupts the youth of Athens with sophistry and atheism.
What did Socrates explain about Athens?
Socrates explained that the young, rich men of the city of Athens have little to do with their time. They, therefore, follow him about the city, observing his questioning of intellectual arguments in dialogue with other intellectual men. In turn, young men imitate the method of Socrates.
How did Socrates solve the divine paradox?
Socrates then sought to solve the divine paradox — how an ignorant man also could be the wisest of all men — in effort to illuminate the meaning of the Oracles' categorical statement that he is the wisest man in the land. After systematically interrogating the politicians, the poets, and the craftsmen, Socrates determined that the politicians were not wise like he was. He says of himself, in reference to a politician: "I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not." (21d). Socrates says that the poets did not understand their poetry; that the prophets and seers did not understand what they said; and that the craftsmen while knowing many things, thought they also had much knowledge on things of which they had none. In that light, Socrates saw himself as a spokesman for the Oracle at Delphi (22e). He asked himself if he would rather be an impostor, like the "wise people" he interrogated, or if he would rather be himself, Socrates of Athens. Socrates tells the jury that he would rather be himself than be anyone else. He says that in searching for a man wiser than himself, he came to be regarded as a social gadfly and acquired a bad reputation among Athens' politically powerful personages.
Why does Socrates say that people who fear death are showing their ignorance?
Socrates proceeds to say that people who fear death are showing their ignorance, because death might be a good thing, yet people fear it as if it is evil; even though they cannot know whether it is good or evil . Socrates says that his wisdom is in being aware that he is ignorant on this, and other topics.
What rhetoric did Socrates use?
By questioning Meletus and forcing him to grapple with the incongruities that exist within his arguments, Socrates uses a simple form of dialectical rhetoric that ultimately advocates for the unadorned pursuit of honesty and truth. Indeed….
Why does Socrates believe in the death penalty?
Socrates believes so strongly in preserving his moral standards that he’s willing to sacrifice his own safety and wellbeing on their behalf. Although the jury threatens him with the death penalty, he refuses to betray his values, instead using his unfortunate situation as an opportunity to teach others the importance of moral integrity. In turn, he demonstrates his unfailing confidence in the way he lives his life. After all, he has been brought to court…
What does Socrates say about the Athenian judicial system?
In his apologia, Socrates suggests that the truth —along with the Athenian judicial system—ought not to be denigrated by deceit and frivolity. However, he also suggests that “a man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public life.”.
What is Socrates' apologia about?
Rather, he simply follows each accusation to its logical conclusion, which often contradicts some previously established assertion.
What is Socrates's belief in Plato's Apology?
Wisdom, Piety, and Belief. In Plato ’s Apology, Socrates upholds that true wisdom involves acknowledging one’s own ignorance. Although his detractors have brought him to court because they believe he’s using his aptitude for critical inquiry to destabilize the city’s conventional structures of belief, he argues that “ the god at Delphi ” has shown ...
