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Analysis Of Plato's Apology

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Analysis Of Plato's Apology
The Apology is Plato's recollection and summary of the Trial of Socrates in 399 BC. In this trial, Socrates gives an explanation of who he is and what kind of life he lived. Although this piece is called the "Apology", it was more of a defense of himself as it was granted before the Athenian Council. He was accused of corrupting the Athenian youth and believing in false gods.. While defending himself on trial, The Oracle at Delphi states that there is no one wiser than Socrates. Socrates decides that he must be wiser than other men only in that he knows that he knows nothing. He then explains that his duty is to question these "wise" men and to reveal their false wisdom as ignorance. Plato writes, “I am that gadfly which God has attached to …show more content…
Socrates explains why the Athenian people should fear his death sentence; since they’ll be giving up Socrates valuable help. All he is trying to do is sting the inactive horse that is Athens, in order to provoke them into taking action. This is a suitable metaphor to fit into Socrates earlier remarks in the Apology. Socrates is defending himself against the charges that he is a doer of evil, who ultimately is destroying the youth. His questions about society are an attempt to stimulate people's brains into forming new ways of perceiving life. Socrates new approach is implying that he will not stop his journey until they accept and understand why they’re ignorant and therefore need to rethink their nature. He is telling them that he is a gift to the world and is only trying to provide help for the Athenian …show more content…
His Socratic Method concluded that philosophy should obtain sensible results for the greater prosperity of society. He indicated that human choice was prompted by the motivation for happiness. Socrates states that wisdom derives from knowing oneself. The more an individual knows, the significantly greater his or her potential to reason and make choices will be, in order to bring happiness into their lives. He also concluded that government worked best when controlled by individuals who had the most substantial capability, knowledge, and goodness while possessing an absolute understanding of themselves. He thought society at the time had no sense of wisdom and was more ignorant than anything. His comparison to a gadfly tells me he was motivated by his philosophical views on the Athenian society and wanting more change for citizens so they could ultimately be more wise and full of

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