Conflict Between Socrates And Socrate

• Last Class: November 21st • Apology is a public speech; Crtio is a private speech • Socrates ○ was the first philosopher concerned with human affairs (ethics, morality) ○ Socrates originally devoted his time to science ○ Later abandoned science and shifted attention to ethics-philosophy ○ Never wrote anything; so how do we know anything about him? Because of: § Plato § Xenophon § Aristophanes (Clouds)- accuser ○ Plato is the mouth piece of Socrates in most cases § But not verbatim; a lie in such that it cannot be verbatim § Idea that Plato is ventriloquist; allows us to just focus on the speech • Apologia: Defence speech • Socrates brought to trial ○ No judge, just officials ○ Jurors;
○ Socrates begins his defence with the old accusers § Cant cross examine them because the old accusers are dead § Did not charge Socrates with not believing in the gods; that was an inference made later buy the new accusers § Arguments (19a8 -20c3) § Addresses the jurors from childhood saying they have been prejudiced against him since childhood § Trials only lasted one day but how do you change someone's deep seeded prejudices in a matter of one day? You can't § Shows his support for Athenian law (19a7) § Defends himself because he says it is his legal duty; shows no strong hope that he will be acquitted § Socrates tried to disprove the Oracle who said Socrates was the wisest Athenian, Socrates did not think this was true but on the other hand he believed his Oracle was right (charge #2) § Socrates spent his whole life based on what the Oracle stated □ How can you say/charge him with Impiety when his whole life has been based on the
□ Says being disgraced is something worse than death; any decent Athenian would have made the same argument during this time in Athens ® This clarifies his position at 28d ® Makes the argument that all men of Athens should stand by their beliefs without fear of death; ® admits he is prepared to do his duty to Athens, he will obey the law but he will also adhere to the rules of higher authority(the gods) ◊ Critical point in the Crito ® If he were an atheist he would have disobeyed the Oracle • The outcome ○ 29c Acquitted on the terms that he must not investigate this anymore and must not practice philosophy anymore ○ Socrates states he will continue to obey the Oracle over the people judging him ○ Socrates truly believes he is a gad fly of sorts; set to action but the god to awaken Athenians § To make Athenians want to leave better lives § Better lives: Goal of virtue and not wealth • Socrates says he has been absent from political life his entire life; explains why he wasn’t political ○ Says he's had a daimonia voice in his head that tells him when he has or is about to do something wrong; a voice that has veto power; the voice counselled him to avoid political life and stay away from