Preview

Plato Apology

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2091 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Plato Apology
Critical Analysis of The Apology of Socrates by Plato Socrates was an orator and philosopher whose primary interests were logic, ethics and epistemology. In Plato’s Apology of Socrates, Plato recounts the speech that Socrates gave shortly before his death, during the trial in 399 BC in which he was charged with "corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, also being a busybody and intervene gods business". The name of the work itself is not mean what it is appeared; here, Socrates is not apologizing, but merely speaking in defense of his beliefs and actions – the word apology is used in the context of its original meaning. During this apology, Socrates attempts to explain himself and the decisions that led to his action, educating his audience in the philosophical questions he chooses to pose. Socrates does not try to avoid death in the trial; instead, his goal is to enlighten the public for the last time before his own passing.
Socrates was always fascinated with the solving of questions, both big and small; his approach was to use the Socratic method of inquiry, wherein he would break the problem down into several questions, and then systematically find the answers to each question in order to find the larger answer. It was a methodical and practical approach to show his ultimate quest for seeking the true knowledge. He says, "His wisdom is truly worthless"; this is indicative of his unending search for more and more knowledge (Apology 23b). According to him, philosophy starts by admitting that you are ignorant of the truth, which is what he does here. It is with this approach to philosophical questions and dilemmas – the use of Socratic irony - that Socrates chooses to engage with his audience and demonstrate why he did what he did.
The Socratic method of dialectical investigation utilized arguments to try and determine ethics and truth. Two techniques were primarily used by Socrates: first, he would create a hypothesis,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Plato’s Apology and Crito tells a story of the defense of Socrates, and his reasons for not escaping prison. The Apology is a long speech by Socrates about the accusations made by his accusers, Socrates position about these accusations, the verdict, and Socrates reaction to the verdict. Crito describes Socrates in prison waiting to be put to death. The story is set in Athens. Socrates is being accused of being an evil doer, corrupting the youth, and for not believing in the gods. Socrates chooses to defend himself and ask the jury to allow him to speak in his normal manner because he has never been in a court room. Socrates starts his defense by denying all charges and addressing them one by one. He starts with the accusation of being an…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    On pages 35-37 of Plato’s philosophical dialogue “Apology” (389 BCE), Socrates argues that if he is wise it’s because he, unlike others, knows that he is not wise and he knows that people can not know when they think they know. In the beginning of the dialogue socrates sets up the question on why he is in trouble with the court(for corrupting the youth) and where did his reputation come from. He explains to the court that the oracle pronounced him as being the most wise and that no one else was wiser than him. Being confused on why the Gods would say this, Socrates explains the stories to the court on how he ventured out to search for wiser man to prove the oracle wrong but along the way he realizes that the politicians, poets, and artisans…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In The Apology by Plato, the accusations that was brought against Socrates during his trial, that he was worshipping new gods, corrupting the young. Even after providing services to the Athens he was being executed by the Athens for influencing young men not to join the Athens. Socrates is one of the few individuals whom one could say has so-shaped the cultural and intellectual development of the world that, without him Socrates had influenced Plato to not to have a career in the political world as an Athens Socrates. Plato was a disciple of Socrates. The apology was an attempt to defend the character of Socrates by showing him in an honest and sympathetic. Plato wanted to preserve Socrates reputation, and to him as a great mentor.…

    • 127 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Plato’s Apology Socrates is not really apologizing. He is not sorry for his actions, he is defending them. Socrates forms his argument as more of a conversation than a formal speech. This is because he is not familiar with the way that the courts of the law work, so he will speak the way he is used to speaking. Socrates explains that his behavior came from being told that he is the wisest of all men by the oracle Delphi. He decides that since he is ignorant to things that most men have knowledge of, he must be the wisest because he knows nothing. He decides that it is his duty to question all of the other men to uncover their ignorance and lack of wisdom. The younger people like this, but the men being questioned hate him for this.…

    • 199 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Socrates looks to the priest to tell him what exactly is pious so that he may educate himself as to why he would be perceived as impious. Found in the Apology, another of Plato's Five Dialogues, Socrates aims to defend his principles to the five hundred and one person jury. Finally, the Crito, an account of Socrates' final discussion with his good friend Crito, Socrates is offered an opportunity to escape the prison and his death sentence. As is known, Socrates rejected the suggestion. It is in the Euthyphro and the Apology that it can be deduced that Socrates is not guilty as charged, he had done nothing wrong and he properly defended himself. However, in the Crito, it is shown that Socrates is guilty only in the interpretation and enforcement of Athens' laws through the court system and its jurors. Socrates' accusations of being blasphemous are also seen as…

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Death is one of the most discussed topics that has always risen a lot of doubt and concerns . Many philosophers and writers, through the centuries, have tried to find a definition or a reason for this mysterious and inevitable event. Analyzing Plato’s Apology, he seemed to have a positive view about death. He claimed that death is a “state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness”; in fact, he compared death with the act of sleeping. But since death is more deep and irreversible, humans cannot be bothered by dreams or thought because they’re dead, whereas this could happen while they’re sleeping. So death is a state of relaxing for the soul and for this motivation he considered death as a conquer for human’s life. He also pointed out another…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Plato's Apology, Socrates a philosopher is standing trial for charges that are not easily proven. Socrates has two sets of charges brought against him the “old” charges that Socrates claims that have been talked about for a very long time “there are many of these accusers, and they have been accusing me for a long time now.”(Plato 18c) His second set of charges known as the “new’ charges represent more straight forward claims. New charges called onto Socrates is that he is guilty of corrupting the youth as well as not believing in the gods in which the city chooses to believe in. Despite accusation for many of these false crimes Socrates is allowed a chance to argue his position against his accusers, which is what Socrates does best. However…

    • 1096 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Apology is one of the numerous recorded writings about Socrates. It talks about the trail of Socrates who is arrested on the charges corrupting the youth, not believing in the gods of the lord, and for being a Sophist. Socrates is not believed to have written any books; the apology was written by his student Plato who was at his trial. In this paper, I will discuss I will be talking about the charges laid against Socrates and how he defends himself.…

    • 87 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Socrates lived a life of inquiry in order to achieve a fulfilled life of eudaimonia and success. I argue that the Socratic examined life is a process, which should be valued because it teaches one to be critical thinkers, and aids us in the understanding our true actions.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Interlocutor Vs Meno

    • 1706 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In this dialogue, Socrates is attempting to defense himself at the trial and prove his innocence, while others are trying to put him to death for introducing strange gods and corrupting the youth. Socrates's first sentence sets the tone and direction for the whole dialogue. Socrates, in addressing the men of Athens, states that he almost forgets who he is because of…

    • 1706 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    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 gods, and corrupting the youth of Athens. For the most part, Socrates speaks in a very plain, conversational manner. He explains that he has no experience with the law courts and that he will instead speak in the manner to which he is accustomed with honesty and directness. Socrates then proceeds to interrogate Meletus, the man primarily responsible for bringing Socrates before the jury. He strongly attacks Meletus for wasting the court¡¦s time on such absurd charges. He then argues that if he corrupted the young he did so unknowingly since Socrates believes that one never deliberately acts wrongly. If Socrates neither did not corrupt the young nor did so unknowingly, then in both cases he should not be brought to trial. The other charge is the charge of impiety. This is when…

    • 1653 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Platos Apology

    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages

    People are accused all over the world for crimes they are not guilty of. In the text “Platos Apology” Socrates is accused of a crime which is slander. Socrates believes that teaching is not crime and he shouldn't be prosecuted for such an act.Teaching is not a crime. How can he be accused of something that isn't wrong in society?…

    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Plato's Apology

    • 4230 Words
    • 17 Pages

    citizens. The Apology is Plato’s account of the speech that Socrates gave in defense of his…

    • 4230 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Plato was known to be one of Socrates ' students, and knew him for over 40 years. Although Plato 's version of Apology is popularly believed to be (the most accurate) historical recount of what happened in 399 B.C on the day of Socrates ' trial, historians cannot be sure the validity of everything he wrote. It can be argued that it is actually a philosophical work, remarking on the teachings of Socrates and his beliefs, which he stood by even until his death. Plato does attempt to develop a new mission for philosophy through this text. By writing Apology, Plato hopes to inspire "deeper thinking" amongst everyone. There are three main themes in Apology that seemed to show Plato and Socrates ' philosophies. These themes attribute to what they hope to instill in others, and are akin to their other teachings. Some of these are 'moral codes ', while others are contrasts to other philosophies.…

    • 1367 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    In Plato’s Republic, as well as in most of his other works, the philosopher writes dialogues between the character of his mentor, Socrates, and various figures meant to illustrate contradictory positions. He carefully scripts the engagements in a form of discussion now called the Socratic Method, where Socrates critiques the positions of the other characters in order to find flaws in inaccurate arguments. Although this method is prevalent even today, I will make the case that even when Plato himself is using it, the Socratic Method, while not without benefits, is an extremely flawed way of conducting educational discourse.…

    • 1805 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays