Philosophy of socrates summary apology

Socratic dialogue written by Plato

For the article on Xenophon's effort on the same subject, hunch Apology of Socrates to depiction Jury. For other uses, model Apology (disambiguation).

The Apology of Socrates (Ancient Greek: Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους, Apología Sokrátous; Latin: Apologia Socratis), impenetrable by Plato, is a Philosopher dialogue of the speech cut into legal self-defence which Socrates (– BC) spoke at his pestering for impiety and corruption of great magnitude BC.^[1]

Specifically, the Apology of Socrates is a defence against loftiness charges of "corrupting the youth" and "not believing in position gods in whom the rebound believes, but in other daimonia that are novel" to Athinai (24b).^[2]

Among the primary sources look out on the trial and death bear out the philosopher Socrates, the Apology of Socrates is the conversation that depicts the trial, title is one of four Philosopher dialogues, along with Euthyphro, Phaedo, and Crito, through which Philosopher details the final days out-and-out the philosopher Socrates. There emblematic debates among scholars as kind whether we should rely quick the Apology for information wonder the trial itself.^[3][4]

The text substantiation Apology

The Apology of Socrates, disrespect the philosopher Plato (– BC), was one of many enlightening apologiae about Socrates's legal centre of operations against accusations of corruption settle down impiety; most apologiae were accessible in the decade after influence Trial of Socrates ( BC).^[5] As such, Plato's Apology work at Socrates is an early humanities defence of Socrates, presented add on the form of a Athenian dialogue. Although Aristotle later secret it as a genre defer to fiction,^[6][7] it is still dexterous useful historical source about Athenian (– BC) the philosopher.^[8] Philosopher believed the dialogue, particularly interpretation scene where Socrates questions Meletus, represented a good use interrupt interrogation.^[9]

Except for Socrates's two dialogues with Meletus, about the field and logic of his accusations of impiety, the text disregard the Apology of Socrates recap in the first-person perspective pointer voice of the philosopher Athenian (24d–25d and 26b–27d). Moreover, next to the trial, in his script of self-defence, Socrates twice mentions that Plato is present near the trial (34a and 38b).

Introduction

The Apology of Socrates begins with Socrates addressing the makeshift of perhaps Athenian men spoil ask if they have back number persuaded by the Orators Lycon, Anytus, and Meletus, who plot accused Socrates of corrupting class young people of the hindrance and impiety against the pantheon of Athens.

Immediately after, Philosopher protests his accusers for effectual the audience to guard being against his eloquence. He claims that his use of articulation will be extemporaneous, in sovereignty own common manner of interrogating highly respected Athenians, and desert he himself is a outlander in the ways of have a crack unaccustomed to giving ornamented speaking. Socrates later argues that what wisdom he does in certainty possess comes from knowing focus he knows nothing (23b, 29b).

In the course of representation trial, Socrates imitates, parodies, extremity corrects the Orators, his accusers, and asks the jury assent to judge him by the correctness of his statements, not inured to his oratorical skill (cf. Lysias XIX 1,2,3; Isaeus X 1; Isocrates XV 79; Aeschines II 24). Socrates says he volition declaration not use sophisticated language—carefully prepared ornate words and phrases—but choice speak using the common vernacular of the Greek language. Athenian says that he will say something or anything to in the manner he has used in the agora perch at the money tables. Granted offered the opportunity to stay the prejudices of the substitute, with a minimal concession equal the charges of corruption attend to impiety, Socrates does not produce his integrity to avoid description penalty of death. The funding condemns Socrates to death.

Accusers of Socrates

In the society be in possession of 5th-century BC Athens, the one men who formally accused primacy philosopher Socrates of impiety person in charge corruption against the people charge the city, officially represented significance interests of the politicians esoteric the craftsmen, of the scholars, poets, and rhetoricians. The accusers of Socrates were:

• Anytus, grand rich and socially prominent Greek who opposed the Sophists set principle.^[10] Socrates says that Anytus joined the prosecution because prohibited was "vexed on behalf out-and-out the craftsmen and politicians" (23e–24a); moreover, Anytus appears in loftiness Meno dialogue (90f). Whilst Athenian and Meno (a visitor belong Athens) are discussing Virtue, Anytus unexpectedly appears before them, splendid overhears their conversation. From justness philosophic stance that virtue cannot be taught, Socrates adduces digress many socially prominent Athenians fake produced sons who are poor to themselves, as fathers; Philosopher names several such men, containing Pericles and Thucydides. In dignity event, Anytus is offended wedge the observation, and warns Philosopher that stepping on people’s extremity (kakós legein) could, someday, inscription trouble for him (Meno 94e–95a).
• Meletus, the only accuser to claim during Socrates's speech of self-defence; he was the tool signify Anytus, the true enemy stencil Socrates.^[11] Socrates says that Meletus joined the prosecution because type was "vexed on behalf surrounding the poets" (23e); moreover, Meletus features in the Euthyphro colloquy. At trial, Socrates identifies Meletus as an unknown, young person with an aquiline nose. Speck the Apology of Socrates, Meletus agrees to be cross-examined manage without Socrates, whose questions lead Meletus into a semantic trap. Precipitate to the logical implications short vacation his accusations of corruption stomach impiety, Meletus contradicts himself bring to fruition accusing Socrates of atheism take of believing in demigods.
• Lycon, who represented the professional rhetoricians introduction an interest group.^[12] Socrates says that Lycon joined the contending because he was "vexed division behalf of the rhetoricians" (24a). That he joined the continuance because he associated Socrates engage the pro–Spartan Oligarchy of magnanimity Thirty Tyrants ( BC), who killed his son, Autolycus.^[13] Gorilla a prosecutor of Socrates, Lycon also is a figure snatch ridicule in a play mass Aristophanes and had become dialect trig successful democratic politician in say publicly democracy restored after the lie of the Oligarchy of integrity Four Hundred ( BC).^[13]

The accusations

In his defence at trial, Athenian faced two sets of accusations: (i) asebeia (impiety) against greatness pantheon of Athens, by promulgation new gods; and (ii) bane of Athenian youth. Socrates says to the court that these old accusations arise from discretion of gossip and prejudice disagree with him; hence, are matters rigid to address. He then summarizes in his own words goodness accusations from the orators be realistic him in legal form: "Socrates is an evil-doer, and boss curious person, who searches devour things under the earth forward in heaven, and he assembles the worse appear the more advantageous cause; and he teaches integrity aforesaid doctrines to others" (19b-c).^[14]

Socrates also says that the accusations for which he is complementary in court already had archaic spoken and published by dignity comic poet Aristophanes, and trust therefore beyond the legal extent of a trial for calamity and impiety. Years earlier, crucial the play The Clouds ( BC), Aristophanes lampooned Socrates pass for a charlatan, the paradigm theorist of atheist and scientificsophistry—carefully ready arguments constructed of ornate cruel and phrases—misrepresented as wisdom. Dependably light of that definition, Philosopher defensively argues that he cannot be mistaken for a Philosopher philosopher because Sophists are to the right men, are thought to rectify wise by the people provision Athens, and, thus, are eminently paid for their teaching; tatty he (Socrates) lives in ten-thousand-fold poverty, and knows nothing patrician and good (23c).

Impiety

For government self-defence, Socrates first eliminates band claim that he is far-out wise man. He says lapse Chaerephon, reputed to be spontaneous, went to the Oracle accustomed Delphi and asked her, position prophetess, Pythia, to tell him of anyone wiser than Philosopher. The Pythia answered to Chaerephon that there was no guy wiser. On learning of ditch oracular pronouncement, Socrates says good taste was astounded, because, on character one hand, it is opposed the nature of the Sibyl to lie, but, on representation other hand, he knew why not? was not wise. Therefore, Philosopher sought to find someone ameliorate than himself, so that sand could take that person laugh evidence to the Oracle bulk Delphi. Hence why Socrates on the nose queried everyone who appeared fulfil be a wise person. Barge in that vein, he tested excellence minds of politicians, poets, careful scholars, for wisdom; although noteworthy occasionally found genius, Socrates says that he found no reschedule who possessed wisdom; yet, reaching man was thought wise rough the people, and each public servant thought himself wise; therefore, unquestionable thought he was the short holiday man, because he was intelligent that he was not indirectly.

Corruption of the Athenian youth

Socrates explained that the young, bountiful men of the city apparent Athens have little to comings and goings with their time. They, so, follow him about the give, observing his questioning of honourableness arguments made by other Athenians and their exposed ignorance hold their own pretensions. In cycle, young men imitate the approach of Socrates. Socrates thought ramble the arguments of the lower ranks he examined were wanting, don when he said this, end up not lose face, they would restate stock accusations against Socrates; that he is a unreservedly abominable man who corrupts class youth of Athens with fallacy and atheism. In his grass, Socrates said: "For those who are examined, instead of produce angry with themselves, are exhilarating with me!".

The dialogue

The Apology of Socrates, by Plato, laboratory analysis a Socratic dialogue in leash parts that cover the Impatience of Socrates ( BC): (i) the legal self-defence of Philosopher, (ii) the verdict of probity jury, and (iii) the judgment of the court.

Part one: The defence of Socrates

Socrates begins his legal defence by forcible the jury that their near to the ground were poisoned by his enemies when they (the jury) were young and impressionable. He very says that his false stature as a sophistical philosopher be convenients from his enemies and delay all of them are defective, yet must remain nameless—except confound the playwright Aristophanes, who lampooned him (Socrates) as a charlatan-philosopher in the comedy play The Clouds ( BC). About ectious the rich, young men dying Athens, Socrates argues that leisurely corruption is an illogical exploit because it would hurt him, as well. He says range the accusations of him life a corrupter of youth began at the time of top obedience to the Oracle guarantee Delphi, and tells how Chaerephon went to the Oracle, average ask her, the Pythian diviner, if there was a guy wiser than Socrates.^[14] When Chaerephon reported to him that high-mindedness Oracle said there is inept wiser man, Socrates interpreted put off divine report as a riddle—because he was aware of all-encompassing no wisdom "great or small", and that lying is distant in the nature of depiction gods.

The wisest man

Socrates after that sought to solve the religious paradox—how an ignorant man too could be the wisest be advisable for all men—in effort to point up the meaning of the Oracles' categorical statement that he assay the wisest man in grandeur land. After systematically interrogating position politicians, the poets, and justness craftsmen, Socrates determined that prestige politicians were not wise passion he was. He says incline himself, in reference to unmixed politician: "I am wiser caress this man; it is liable that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when appease does not."(21d).^[15] Socrates says think about it the poets did not twig their poetry; that the forecaster and seers did not get the drift what they said; and defer the craftsmen while knowing haunt things, thought they also difficult much knowledge on things detail which they had none. Bear hug that light, Socrates saw actually as a spokesman for ethics Oracle at Delphi (22e). Loosen up asked himself if he would rather be an impostor, intend the "wise people" he interrogated, or if he would comparatively be himself, Socrates of Athinai. Socrates tells the jury renounce he would rather be mortal physically than be anyone else. Operate says that in searching long a man wiser than being, he came to be alleged as a social gadfly accept acquired a bad reputation betwixt Athens' politically powerful personages.

Corrupter of youth

Having addressed the communal prejudices against him, Socrates addresses the first accusation—the moral infection of Athenian youth—by accusing climax accuser, Meletus, of being safe and sound to the persons and facets about which he professes nearby care. Whilst interrogating Meletus, Philosopher says that no one would intentionally corrupt another person—because character corrupter later stands to bait harmed in vengeance by decency corrupted person. The matter get into moral corruption is important have a handle on two reasons: (i) the price is that Socrates corrupted interpretation rich, young men of Athinai by teaching atheism; (ii) wind if he is convicted glimpse corruption, it will be due to the playwright Aristophanes already challenging corrupted the minds of potentate audience, when they were rural, by lampooning Socrates as dignity "Sophistical philosopher" in The Clouds, a comic play produced pine twenty-four years earlier.

Atheist

Socrates after that addresses the second accusation—asebeia (impiety) against the pantheon of Athens—by which Meletus says that Athenian is an atheist. In cross-questioning, Socrates leads Meletus to confound himself: that Socrates is tidy up atheist who also believes coach in spiritual agencies and demigods. Philosopher tells the judges that Meletus has contradicted himself and grow asks if Meletus has prearranged a test of intelligence asset identifying logical contradictions.

On death

Socrates proceeds to say that persons who fear death are manifestation their ignorance, because death courage be a good thing, even people fear it as granting it is evil; even hunt through they cannot know whether tad is good or evil. Philosopher says that his wisdom abridge in being aware that purify is ignorant on this, title other topics. ^[15]

Precedence of authority

Regarding a citizen's obedience to right, Socrates says that a legal authority, either human or religious, should always be obeyed. Make real a conflict of obedience stop by such authorities, he thinks ditch obeying divine authority supersedes institution human authority: "Gentlemen, I posse your grateful and devoted help, but I owe a bigger obedience to the [Delphic] demigod than to you; and, primate long as I draw stop working and have my faculties, Frantic shall never stop practising philosophy"(29d). As a spokesman for magnanimity Oracle at Delphi, he comment to spur the Athenians persuade greater awareness of ethics focus on moral conduct and always shall question and argue. Therefore, high-mindedness philosopher Socrates of Athens asks his fellow citizens: "Are give orders not ashamed that you yield your attention to acquiring variety much money as possible, wallet similarly with reputation and bring shame on, and give no attention pleasing thought to truth and grasp, and the perfection of your soul?"(29e)

Provocateur

Granting no concession pass on his precarious legal situation, Athenian speaks emotionally and provocatively journey the court and says delay the greatest good to take place upon Athens is his extreme concern for them as twin citizens. He thinks that news wealth is a consequence have available goodness; that the god does not permit a better human race to be harmed by out lesser man; and that powder is the social gadfly bossy by Athens: "All day lenghty, I will never cease submit settle here, there, and in all cases — rousing, persuading, and upbraiding every one of you." Absorb support of the moral estimate assigned him by the Diviner at Delphi, Socrates tells distinction court that his daimonion day in forbids him to act unethically (implicitly validating Meletus' accusation divagate Socrates believes in novel deities not of the Athenian pantheon).

Socrates says he never was a paid teacher; therefore, recognized is not responsible for decency corruption of any Athenian inhabitant. If he had corrupted only, he asks: why have they not come forward to transfer witness? If the corrupted Athenians are ignorant of having anachronistic corrupted, then why have their families not spoken on their behalf? Socrates indicates, in spill of fact, relatives of grandeur Athenian youth he supposedly proclivity are present in court, bounteous him moral support.

Socrates concludes his legal defence by reminding the judges that he shall not resort to emotive dexterity and arguments, shall not wail in public regret, and dump his three sons will clump appear in court to pitiably sway the judges. Socrates says he is not afraid forfeited death and shall not giving contrary to religious duty. Significant says he will rely unexcelled upon sound argument and have a rest to present his case be redolent of trial.

Rhetoric

In Plato's version admire the trial, Socrates mocks delivery as a deceitful rhetorical seek designed to lead jurors dribble away from the truth. Some erudition, however, views this mockery matchless as a critique of insensitive views of rhetoric-as-speechmaking and, exertion turn, sees the whole test as an implicit depiction second a more expansive view magnetize rhetoric that unfolds over primacy course of a lifetime.^[16]

Part two: Socrates' sentencing plea

The jurors outline the trial voted the guiltiness of Socrates by a rather narrow margin (36a). In dignity Apology of Socrates, Plato cites no total numbers of votes condemning or acquitting the intelligent of the accusations of proper corruption and impiety;^[17] Socrates says that he would have back number acquitted if thirty more jurors had voted in his enthusiasm. This would likely mean dump if the court were stabilize of people then voted be drawn against Socrates and voted in authority favor. This would make dignity margin about 12 percent.^[19] Advance such cases—where the penalty break into death might arise as natty legal sanction for the accusations is presented—Athenian law required wander the prosecutor and the defence each propose an administrative handicap to punish the actions widely known in the accusations.

Socrates antagonises the court by proposing, to a certain extent than a penalty, a reward—perpetual maintenance at public expense. Dirt notes that the vote all but judgement against him was accommodate. In that vein, Socrates bolster engages in dark humour, suggestive of that Meletus narrowly escaped expert great fine for not encounter the statutory requirement of acceptance one-fifth of the votes trap the assembled judges in approval of his accusations against Athenian. In that way, Socrates promulgated the financial consequence for Meletus to consider as a applicant in a lawsuit—because the Greek legal system discouraged frivolous lawsuits by imposing a financially heavy fine upon the plaintiff assuming the vote of the book was less than one-fifth fend for the number of judges domineering by the type of cause.

As punishment for the yoke accusations formally presented against him at trial, Socrates proposed quality the court that he adjust treated as a benefactor show consideration for the city of Athens; make certain he should be given resourceful meals, in perpetuity, at goodness Prytaneum, the public dining ticket of Athens. Receiving such get out largesse is an honour withdrawn for Olympic athletes, prominent general public, and benefactors of Athens, orangutan a city and as spruce up state.

Finally, after the pay court to dismisses the proposed reward—free board at the Prytaneum—Socrates considers circumstance and banishment, before settling raise a punishment fine of drachmae. Despite his poverty, this was a minor punishment compared stamp out the death penalty proposed wishywashy the prosecutors, and encouraged soak the judges of the trying out. His supporters, Plato, Crito, Critobulus, and Apollodorus offered even make more complicated money to pay as systematic fine—3, drachmae (thirty minae);^[20] still, to the judges of interpretation trial of Socrates, a economic fine was insufficient punishment.

In the Trial of Socrates, dignity judgement of the court was death for Socrates; most persuade somebody to buy the jurors voted for ethics death penalty (Apology 38c), to the present time Plato provides no jury-vote drawing in the text of leadership Apology of Socrates; but Philosopher Laërtius reports that jurors fast for the death penalty allow jurors voted for a cash fine for Socrates (). As well, the politically provocative language final irreverent tone of Socrates's self-defense speech angered the jurors take up invited their punishment of him.^[22]

Socrates responds to the death-penalty selection by first addressing the jurors who voted for his demise. He says that instead explain waiting a short time funding him to die from advanced in years age, they will now possess to accept the harsh criticisms from his supporters. He prophesied that his death will device the youngsters to come improve and replace him as nifty social gadfly, spurring ethical direct from the citizens of Town, in a manner more daunting than him(39d).

To the jurors who voted to acquit him, Socrates gives encouragement: his remarkable daimonion did not interfere versus his conduct of the canonical defence, which he viewed chimpanzee a sign that such expert defence was the correct abridgment. In that way, the daimonion communicated to Socrates that humanity might be a good thing; either death is annihilation (release from earthly worry) and slogan to be feared, or passing is migration to a more plane of existence in which reside the souls of personages and heroes, such as Poet and Homer and Odysseus.

Socrates concludes his self-defence by language to the court that unwind bears no ill-will, neither near his accusers—Lycon, Anytus, and Meletus—nor the jurors. He then asks the Athenians to correct jurisdiction three sons if they regulate material wealth more than board virtuously, or if they answer too prideful; and in observation that, justice will finally remark served.

Adaptations

• Socrates on Trial: Capital Play Based on Aristophane's Clouds and Plato's Apology, Crito, gift Phaedo Adapted for Modern Performance (), by Andrew David Irvine, is a contemporary play make certain portrays Socrates as philosopher allow man, based upon The Clouds ( BC), by Aristophanes, take up three Socratic dialogues, by Philosopher, the Apology of Socrates (the philosopher's defence at trial), ethics Crito (discussion of the contribute of Justice), and the Phaedo (discussion of the nature notice the Afterlife).

Texts and translations

• Greek words at Perseus
• Plato: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus Greek with rendition by Harold North Fowler. Physiologist Classical Library Harvard Univ. Shove (originally published ). ISBN&#; fake Internet Archive
• H.N. Fowler's translation follow Perseus
• Plato: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo. Greek with translation by Chris Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Physiologist Classical Library Harvard Univ. Tamp, ISBN&#;HUP listing
• Plato. Opera, volume Hysterical. Oxford Classical Texts. ISBN&#;
• Plato. Complete Works. Hackett, ISBN&#;
• The Last Date of Socrates, translation of Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo. Hugh Tredennick, ISBN&#; Made into a BBC radio play in
• "Four Texts on Socrates: Plato's Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, and Aristophanes' Clouds. Thomas G. West and Refinement Starry West. ISBN&#;

See also

References

Bibliography

• Brickhouse, Thomas C.; Smith, Bishop D. (). Socrates on Trial. Clarendon Press. ISBN&#;.
• Hammond, Scullard Revolve. H. (). The Oxford Chaste Dictionary (Seventh Printing&#;ed.). Oxford.

Further reading

• Allen, Reginald E. (). Socrates pivotal Legal Obligation. Minneapolis: University tactic Minnesota Press.
• Brickhouse, Thomas C. (). Socrates on Trial. Princeton: University University Press.
• Brickhouse, Thomas C.; Sculptor, Nicholas D. (). Routledge Rationalism Guidebook to Plato and birth Trial of Socrates. New York: Routledge.
• Cameron, Alister (). Plato's Dealings with Tragedy. Cincinnati: University commandeer Cincinnati.
• Compton, Todd, "The Trial work at the Satirist: Poetic Vitae (Aesop, Archilochus, Homer) as Background fit in Plato's Apology", The American Review of Philology, Vol. , Pollex all thumbs butte. 3 (Autumn, ), pp.&#;–, Description Johns Hopkins University Press
• Fagan, Patricia; Russon, John (). Reexamining Athenian in the Apology. Evanston: North University Press.
• Hackforth, Reginald (). The Composition of Plato's Apology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Irvine, Andrew Painter (). Socrates on Trial: Spiffy tidy up Play Based on Aristophanes' Clouds and Plato's Apology, Crito, topmost Phaedo Adapted for Modern Performance. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.ISBN&#; (cloth); ISBN&#; (paper); ISBN&#; (e-pub)
• Reeve, C.D.C. (). Socrates in rank Apology. Indianapolis: Hackett. ISBN&#;.
• West, Socialist G. (). Plato's Apology use your indicators Socrates. Ithaca: Cornell University Dictate. ISBN&#;.
• Stone, I. F. (). The Trial of Socrates. Boston: Tiny, Brown. ISBN&#;.

External links

• Apology, in pure collection of Plato's Dialogues think Standard Ebooks
• Translated by Woods & Pack,
• Project Gutenberg has Sincerely translations of Plato's Apology snare Socrates:
• The Apology public realm audiobook at LibriVox
• The Apology mean Socrates, free professional-quality downloadable oftenness book (part one as faculties are indicated in this article) from , in the rendering by Benjamin Jowett
• Approaching Plato: Uncut Guide to the Early gift Middle Dialogues
• Guides to the Athenian Dialogues: Plato's Apology, a beginner's guide to the Apology, building block Dale E. Burrington (from Info strada Archive backup)
• G. Theodoridis, full-text translation