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Apology of Socrates

Apology of Socrates. Socrates’ “Defense Speech” - Plato’s Defense of Philosophy. Structure of the Dialogue. Defense ( 17a-35d ) Old charges (17a-24b) in which he tells of his “mission” New charges (24b-28b) in which he examines Meletus Way of life (28b-35d) in which he explains his values

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Apology of Socrates

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  1. Apology of Socrates Socrates’ “Defense Speech” - Plato’s Defense of Philosophy

  2. Structure of the Dialogue • Defense (17a-35d) • Oldcharges (17a-24b) in which he tells of his “mission” • Newcharges (24b-28b) in which he examines Meletus • Way of life (28b-35d) in which he explains his values • Counterpenalty (35d-38c) • Final words (38e-42b)

  3. Response to the “Old Charges” • He does not: • “investigate things under earth or in heavens” • “make the worse argument stronger” • He is no “teacher” • Reputation for wisdom = “service to the god” • His “wisdom” = he “knows he does not know” (re: the highest things) • vs. technical wisdom • Sophistic ‘wisdom’ • vs. divine wisdom

  4. Response to the “New Charges” • How can he be guilty of “corrupting” others when no one willingly does harm? • How can he be guilty of “atheism” if he believes in “spiritual things”?

  5. WHO IS SOCRATES? • Skeptic: 21a-23b • Moralist: 28b-31b • Teacher: does not ‘instruct’

  6. Socrates’ Way of Life • Socrates “knows” he must never do wrong; must seek virtue and truth • Socrates = gadfly sent to Athens as gift from the gods • “the good man can’t be harmed”

  7. The Examined Life • “If I tell you that I do this as my duty to the god, you will think I am ironical. If I tell you I do this because it is the greatest good, and because the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being, you will believe me even less.” (38a)

  8. Final Words to “the [true] Jurors” • Proclaims again that “the good man can’t be harmed” • Argues “death may be a blessing, if it is endless sleep, or if there is an afterlife, in which we may converse with wise and good men.”

  9. Paradoxes in the Apology • Why doesn’t Socrates make a “better” speech (one that would get him free)? • Why does Socrates think “no man willingly does wrong”(25e)? • Does Socrates “not know” the highest things (21d), or does he “know” them (29b-e)? • Why does Socrates say “the good man can’t be harmed” (30d, 41d)? What does he mean? • Why does Socrates say “the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being”(38a)? • Why does Socrates think “death may be a blessing”? (40d-41a)

  10. Unresolved Issues • Is Socrates = a danger to the peace and security of Athens, or a godsend? • Is Socratic philosophy an enemy to the Greek religion, or religion in general, or a friend and natural companion? • Is Socrates’ serenity even in the face of death a merely personal quality, or is it somehow rooted in philosophy?

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