Plato - Apology
From The Inferno
Apology
Contents |
[edit] Author's Notes/Introduction
- Begins by dispelling belieffs about his speaking ability - says that he will employ the same language as he does "in the marketplace by the banker's tables"
- Charges against Socrates: 1) He is impious, 2) He is teaching his dangerous beliefs to young people - corrupting the youth
- Denies being a paid teacher - that involves knowing what is excellent in men and Socrates does not have that kind of knowledge
- So if Socrates isn't a teacher, then what is his occupation in life?
- Socrates' answer: to follow the god Apollo
- The oracle of Delphi said that there is no one wiser than Socrates
- This led Socrates on a mission to find somebody wiser than him
- "In my investigation in the service of the god I found that those who had the highest reputation were nearly the most deficient, while those who were thought to be inferior were more knowledgeable" (22a).
- Why are the other men not wise? Socrates' answer: Because they think they know more than they actually do
- Socrates' interpretation of the oracle at Delphi: Socrates is wiser than other men because he understands that he doesn't know anything
- Therefore, Socrates' duty in life (according to Apollo) is to examine people and their perceptions of knowledge
[edit] Refuting the charge of corrupting the youth
- Meletus admits that his charge is based on the fact that Athens as a whole improve the youth while Socrates alone corrupts them
- Socrates says that this is an impossible situation
- Proof #1: If the same situation is applied to horses, then almost everybody would be a horsebreeder since they would all be able to improve horses and only one person can corrupt them. But the fact of the matter is, we only have a few select people being horsebreeders.
- Proof #2: Wicked people do wrong onto people closest to them. If Socrates was really wicked, he runs the risk of being harmed by the people he has done wrong to. Therefore, he cannot have been wicked willingly.
[edit] Refuting the charge of impiety
- Meletus' charge is that Socrates does not believe in the gods
- Proof: People who believe in flute-playing must believe in flute-players. People who believe in spiritual activities must believe in spirits. Socrates believes in the oracle of Apollo, therefore he must believe in Apollo (and the gods)
[edit] Conclusion
- Socrates would not accept exile because: 1) he does not know enough about the underworld to fear it, 2) doing that would be disobeying the god's command
- He is attached to Athens by the god's command
- Socrates did not take part in politics because of an inner voice - also, his experiences in the past have led him to conclude that he'd rather flout the law than to be injust in poliitics ‘’’(this idea of the unwilling ruler shows up later in The Republic)’’’
- Socrates will not use pity to win votes because that would be showing disrespect for the court
[edit] After being found guilty
- "The unexamined life is not worth living" (38a)
- It is pointless to ask for exile, because this same thing will happen in other cities
[edit] After being sentenced to death
- The jurors are doing wrong onto themselves because: 1) Socrates' followers will be even harsher than he is, 2) they are getting rid of a person who would have helped them realize what is good
- Is death bad? Socrates does not think that it is too horrible a punishment
- "I go to die, you go to live. Which of us goes to t he better lot is known to no one, except the god" (42a)
