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Corruption Of Socrates In Plato's Apology

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Plato's Apology Consider the position of Socrates in Plato's "Apology". Now consider the historical circumstances surrounding Socrates' trial. Provide a reasoned opinion as to whether or not Socrates actions were appropriate. According to Plato’s Apology to the men of Athens he considered Socrates by many who felt Socrates a wise man, who speculated about the heaven above, and searched into the earth beneath, and made the worse appear the better cause. He also considered Socrates an evil-doer, and a curious person, who searches into things under the earth and in heaven, and he makes the worse appear the better cause; and he teaches the aforesaid doctrines to others." Socrates, in his defense, mentioned the harm done to him by Aristophanes's …show more content…

Socrates is guilty of refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state, and of introducing new divinities. The jury found him guilty. By his own argument, however, Socrates could not blame the jury, for it was mistaken about what was truly in the interest of the city (cf. Theaetetus 177d-e) and thus required instruction. Socrates is found guilty by a narrow margin and is asked to propose a penalty. Socrates jokingly suggests that if he were to get what he deserves, he should be honored with a great meal for being of such service to the state. On a more serious note, he rejects prison and exile, offering perhaps instead to pay a fine. When the jury rejects his suggestion and sentences him to death, Socrates stoically accepts the verdict with the observation that no one but the gods know what happens after death and so it would be foolish to fear what one does not know. He also warns the jurymen who voted against him that in silencing their critic rather than listening to him, they have harmed themselves much more than they have harmed him. Socrates was poisoned. The poisoner described the physical effects of the Conium maculatum variety of hemlock used for citizen executions (Bloch 2001), then Socrates cheerfully took the cup and drank. Phaedo, a former slave echoing the slave of the Eleven, called Socrates, "the best, the wisest and the most upright" (Phaedo

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In this paper I will examine why Socrates did not attempt to appease the jury in his Apology. Socrates is put on trial for corrupting the youth and believing in gods other than the gods of the city. I believe he chose not to appease the jury for three reasons: he is a man of pride, he does not fear death and additionally finds it shameful to fear death. Socrates is a man of pride.

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On the other hand, Douglass’ narrative could be out into many kinds of arguments. For one it could be put in an argument to make a decision. Douglass had made multiple examples of this by making the decision to live with someone else instead of leaving by himself when he was freed. Thinking about that, if I was in his shoes I would also would want to live with someone else only because I do not know how this new life would be as a freed slave. It did not make Douglass a weak person or dependent it was simply out of his comfort zone.

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Socrates was a greek philosopher who found himself in trouble with his fellow citizens and court for standing his grounds on his new found beliefs from his studies about philosophical virtue, justice, and truth. In “Apology” written by Plato, Socrates defended himself in trial, not with the goal of escaping the death sentence, but with the goal of doing the right thing and standing for his beliefs. With this mindset, Socrates had no intention of kissing up to the Athenians to save his life. Many will argue that Socrates’ speech was not very effective because he did not fight for his life, he just accepted the death sentence that he was punished with. In his speech he said, “But now it’s time to leave, time for me to die and for you to live.”

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Then Socrates questioned, who improves the youth to which Meletus answer was every Athenians. As improvement is the opposite of corruption so stated that all Athenians improve the youth but how can only one person corrupt them? Socrates continued his defense in a philosophical manner he considers himself to be the wisest man on earth by referring to what oracle of Delphi said. Further, Socrates argues that to prove this claim he evaluated the wisdom of a poet, a politician, and an artisan. In his assessment, he found that although these people knew very little to nothing at all about their crafts, they considered themselves to be very wise whereas Socrates himself knew nothing and did not consider himself to be wise.

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Charges of impiety and corruption of the youth were brought against Socrates and he had to desperately defend himself to try and prove his innocence. Although, with a deeper look into his arguments in Plato’s Apology of Socrates a different conclusion for the purpose of his speech arises. Certainly, Socrates is a passionate philosopher and master at ethics; however, he admits he is not afraid to continue to philosophize or even die for his cause. Socrates even proposes that his punishment be only a small fee when the jury convicted him as guilty. Thus, with further analysis of the speech; it can be concluded that Socrates planned his own death.

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Introduction The Apology was written by Plato, and relates Socrates’ defense at his trial on charges of corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates argues that he is innocent of both charges. Plato reports the contents of three speeches delivered by Socrates in his own protection in court which has been arranged over him by the Athenian democrats and has terminated in the death sentence to the great philosopher. The word "apology" in a literal translation means "justification". Plato's purpose when writing "Apology" was to acquit posthumously Socrates from false accusation.

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Careful analysis of The Crito would prove that Socrates does have those qualities as seen from his determination to stay in prison,

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Socrates was a man that was in search of the truth about wisdom. However, it became more then just a search when it brought him to trail of accusations. As a philosopher Socrates was known to overdrawn ideas and to frustrate anyone he was talking to. He is always in search of a better idea and for anyone who has experienced Socrates could assume he is making up his own actualities. This becomes evident in “ Apology” written by Plato, where Socrates was brought in charges for corrupting the minds of the youth and not believing in the Gods.

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Plato showed through the trial that it is dangerous if one is politically active and opposes the regime’s actions because then they will perish at the hands of the state one way or another. That is why Socrates avoided politics for his life and preferred private conversations. Through the apology, Socrates accepted that

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In the reading of “Plato Apology”, Socrates’ vindicates what he values and beliefs to a jury to prove his innocence. Indeed, Miletus a poet, Anytus a craftsmen and Lycon a politician brought an oral charges against Socrates’ attested him of impiety and corrupting youth, required him to appear before the King Archon the legal

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Despite the title of this historical piece of work, this speech, made by Socrates at his trial, was anything but an apology. Plato, who wrote Apology, was a student of Socrates and this is his account of the trial. Even though he was present at the trial, the colloquy may have been adjusted by Plato to reflect what he thought Socrates should have said or what he thought Socrates meant to say. Plato was very fond of Socrates, therefore the way he may present him can be bias. Socrates attempted to persuade the men of Athens of his innocence by presenting himself as a good man and an authority of knowledge, as declared by the Delphic oracle.

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Plato believes that his teacher, Socrates, was trialed because he was “evil” and needed to be killed from society. The “apology” Socrates presents himself as respected and mistreated due to the emotions of the Athenian

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In Apology, Socrates faces possible execution as he stands trial in front of his fellow Athenian men. This jury of men must decide whether Socrates has acted impiously against the gods and if he has corrupted the youth of Athens. Socrates claims in his defense that he wants to live a private life, away from public affairs and teachings in Athens. He instead wants to focus on self-examination and learning truths from those in Athens through inquiry. Socrates argues that "a [man] who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if [he] is to survive for even a short time" (32a).

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Taylor Diebert 820074652 4 February 2018 Short Essay: Plato’s The Apology The Apology is a speech presented by Socrates in court in defense against accusations facing him, formal and informal. The Apology is an interpretation of what happened in the time of the trial and who Socrates was and what his duty was in life. In this essay, I will carefully explain section 30e-31b and Socrates analogy of a gadfly and how it relates to the text as a whole. I will explain Socrates role in the city and why if he is killed, the city will be doing themselves a greater injustice than they will be doing to Socrates by killing him. I will also be explaining how the Socratic Method is used by Socrates in the trial to help against his accusations how he could

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