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Socrates Arguments In Plato's Apology

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Apology is commonly defined as a regretful acknowledgement or offering remorse. However, in the story written by Plato it offers a different definition, a reasoned argument or writing in justification of something or a defense. In the Apology, Socrates is at trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Overall, Socrates offers a insubstantial apology or defense for himself by being contradictory and refusing to change.
“The Apology” recreates the speech Socrates gave during his trial. While on trail Socrates was being charged with corrupting the youth by Meletus. Meletus claims: “Socrates is guilty of wrongdoing in that he busies himself studying …show more content…

His overconfidence in himself can be seen through his utilization of idle arguments. He starts with the horse breeder argument, which is an argument by analogy, to compare corrupters and improvers of society. Essentially it translates to: anyone who uses a horse is essentially corrupting it, while very few improve it with the main improvers being horse breeders. Thus, signifying that there are more corrupters than improvers. In Socrates’ defense, since he is only one man, it would likely take more than just him to corrupt the youth. However, it is not a convincing point because he is essentially saying he isn’t the only one corrupting the youth, so why charge him? Then, he leads into his corruption argument where he states ,“ but either I corrupt them, or I corrupt them unintentionally, so that on either view you lie.” Whether corruption is intentional or not, wrong is wrong. It is like going before a judge saying you didn’t intend to murder someone, but you just so happened to do so. Intentional or unintentional, one would still be found guilty. Throughout the text, Socrates contradicts himself. At first he claims he does not teach the youth of Gods then admits to teaching, but since he is not being paid he denies being a teacher. He feels it would be wrong to disobey the will of Apollo and stop philosophizing, so he would be foolish

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One of Socrates’ friends, Chaerephon, asked if there was anyone wiser than Socrates, to which the oracle replied, “no one” (21a, 85). Socrates, knowing he was not very wise, sought to investigate the claim (21b, 85). Already, the reader can begin to understand how an examined life, is a good life. Socrates is unwilling to accept something as truth, just because it is said by a person in a position of power and respect. He chooses to investigate the claim, to find an understanding of how it can be that someone believes he is the wisest person.

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Socrates claims that his "accusers say I'm clever, but no, I'm just honest" showing the difference between him and them(17b). Socrates declares that "my only wisdom is admitting what I don't know" even after he earned the reputation for being wise(21d). When he is convicted and charged with the crime of corrupting the children even after he says "I don't corrupt the young, or only do so unintentionally" he told his accusers that "I do not reject my conviction because I expected it(25e+35e). While Socrates was free he was known for questioning people so after being convicted he told them "I could question the dead in Hades to find wisdom" realizing that he would not be able to find it where he is(41b). Again showing how death did not fear him, and how Socrates thinks that he will join the underworld as one of the greats.

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The proponents of The Apology might argue that it is indeed very much convincing as Socrates very logically analyzes his slanders and categorically refutes providing reasonable explanations. However, it is to be mentioned that his very dear disciple, Plato, has accounted for Socrates’ Apology. It can be argued that Plato’s account of the trial is not very

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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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“ Either I do not corrupt the young or, if I do, it is unwillingly, and you are lying in either case” (Apology 31) Socrates believes that if he presents a point to the

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Now if I corrupt them unwillingly, the law does not require you to bring people to court for such unwilling wrongdoings, but to get hold of them privately, to instruct them and exhort them; for clearly, if I learn better, I shall cease to do what I am doing unwillingly.” Here, Socrates is trying to convince us of the fact that he believes he unwillingly corrupted the youth, because he believes that people do not intentionally do harm; evil is the product of ignorance, not unwillingness. He did not intend to corrupt them, simply provide them with his knowledge, and he viewed education as the best way to ensure that his students would not do wrong, even by accident. By this logic, he is completely correct that education and enlightenment are necessary to resolve a wrongdoing; one should not be punished for being ignorant; they should be taught to know what is right

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Here is another piece of evidence to support my point. “Because I’m well aware that wherever I go, the young people will listen to what I say, as they do here. If I antagonize them, they’ll drive me out by persuading their elders to do so.” (Lines 142-144) In this quote, Socrates is saying that even if he approaches the young ones with his ideas and philosophies, at a certain point they will come to a dislike of him and try anything at any cost to drive him away.

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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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Socrates is incorrect in saying that no one is wiser than he is. Socrates says, “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.” (Apology 26) By this definition, Socrates implies that those who see themselves as lesser are truly greater. Those who admit they know nothing, know everything.

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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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In one of Plato’s most famous literary works, Apology, the author gives the reader exceptional insight inside into the mind and philosophical thoughts of Socrates, a Greek philosopher who can be considered the father of Western philosophy. The Apology is an analysis of the Trial of Socrates during the year of 399 B.C. Much of the philosophical ideas that are presented in this work are derived from a speech that Socrates is using in order to defend his thoughts and mindset in front of the Athenian Council. Socrates, who was a friend of Plato as well as his teacher, is defending his philosophical thoughts, as well as helping others comprehend the meaning of life so that they can change their lives as well. Socrates explains to the council who

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Plato's “The Apology of Socrates” is a speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new idols, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates' speech, however, is by no means an "apology" in our modern understanding of the word; the name of the dialogue derives from the Greek "apologia," which translates as a defense, or a speech made in defense of the convicted. Thus, in this reading, Socrates attempts to defend himself and his conduct; certainly not to apologize for it. For the most part, Socrates speaks in a very plain, conversational manner towards all his charges that Meletus and Athens has filed against him.

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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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He says, “I do not corrupt, or if I do corrupt, I do it involuntarily, so in both cases what you say is false” (26a, p. 75). He continues by saying that if he corrupts involuntarily, “the law is to bring in those in need of punishment, not learning” (26a, p. 75). This further points out Socrates’s innocence. He believes that he would need to learn of his wrongdoings rather than be punished because he doesn’t see anything wrong with his actions.

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