Plato's Apology Book Report

Plato’s Apology Book Report

Apology is one of Plato’s most renowned works. The book is Plato’s account of Socrates defense of himself before a court in Athens (Platter, 2012). In the book, Socrates is defending himself against the accusation of corrupting the state and the youth of Athens with his teachings and ideas. One of the more serious offenses he is accused of is failing to recognize the city’s gods and causing disbelief in them. Socrates defense is of himself, his ideas, and his conduct. The trial does not end well for him though as the Athenian court ultimately sentences him to death ("Apology by Plato", n.d.). This paper is a report of Plato’s The Apology and its themes.

Socrates begins his ‘apology’/ defense by explaining his lack of experience in courts of law and stating that he will, instead, speak directly and honestly. He then goes ahead and explains his conduct by stating that it all begun from an oracle prophecy that proclaimed him the wisest man because he

The vote is, however, close and the jury ends up asking him to propose a penalty. He jokingly proposes that he should be maintained or hosted in the Prytaneum (a stately building for Athenian dignitaries) for being of great service to Athens. On a more serious note, he suggests exile but speaks of how difficult it will be for him to be accepted in foreign lands. He also suggests paying a fine instead of being jailed. The jury disregard his proposals and sentences him to death. Without any show of fear, emotion or pain, he accepts the judgment and notes that it will be foolish for him to fear death for only the gods know what will become of him when he dies. This is a great example of his philosophy of stoicism. Socrates then tells the jury that it has done more harm to itself than to him by its judgment. He concludes that listening to him (a critic) would have been the wiser option ("Apology by Plato",