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The Role Of Wisdom In The Apology

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Recommended: Critically analyze Socrates arguments in apology

This philosophical study will define the humility theory of wisdom as it is defined in Plato’s The Apology and in Ecclesiastes. In The Apology, Socrates must defend himself from the accusations of the Athenian Court that he has misled and corrupted the youth of Athens. However, Socrates never admits that has educated the young people of Athens, which reveals his own doubts about the knowledge that is taught in Athenian schools. More so, Sophists (Athenian educators) that arrogantly presume their knowledge is correct and true have, in reality, corrupted the children of Athens. This definition of the humility theory of wisdom defines the absurd charge that Socrates has corrupted anyone, since he believes that true wisdom involves some form of …show more content…

Ironically, Socrates has been charged with corrupting the youth of Athens by challenging the accepted rules of knowledge in Athenian education. The Athenian Court defines certain instances in which Socrates questions the existence of the Gods, or that he questions the role of academic leaders in the community. This is perceived as being a danger to the stability of Athenian society, but Socrates defends his position by acknowledging the benefits of dialogues that question the truth. More so, Socrates never makes any claim to “teaching” the children of Athens because he admits he “does not know” enough knowledge to be an educator. This definition of the humility theory of wisdom is put forth against Socrates, yet he countermands these charges by accusing the Sophists of misleading the Athenian …show more content…

This definition of wisdom assumes a humble premise of Socrates’ argument, which is part of the philosophical search for truth. In this manner, Socrates becomes the “wisest man in Athens” because he is willing to admit he knows nothing, so that he can begin to find new truths through a dialogue with the Athenian citizens.
In the Bible, Ecclesiastes provides supporting evidence of the humility theory of wisdom that Socrates brings forth in The Apology. This biblical definition of wisdom never presumes to be absolute, since the wise man must always have some doubt about the perfection of truth. More so, no human being can proclaim to have perfect knowledge because of the premise of Original Sin. In some ways, Socrates would agree with the “teacher” in Ecclesiastes on the power of a wise man that presumes to know nothing as a basis for the humility theory of wisdom:
Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city. Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins (Ecclesiastes

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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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He clarifies that his conduct originates from an insight by the prophet at Delphi who guaranteed that he was the wisest of all men. Perceiving his obliviousness in most common undertakings, Socrates reasoned that he should be more clever than other men just in that he realizes that he knows nothing. Keeping in mind the end goal to spread this exceptional shrewdness, Socrates clarifies that he thought of it as his obligation to address assumed "insightful" men and to uncover their false intelligence as obliviousness. These exercises earned him much esteem among the adolescent of Athens, yet much contempt and outrage from the general population he humiliated. He refers to their scorn as the purpose behind his being put on trial.

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In the Greek literary work Apology written by Plato, Socrates was convicted for refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state, introducing new divinities and corrupting the youth. It is believed by many critics that Socrates knew he was going to be sentenced to death so, he was able to use his defense as an opportunity to clear his reputation, confront his accusers, but most significantly instruct the Athenians. He wanted them to look into themselves and seek virtue and wisdom before looking into personal interests. We notice throughout Socrates’ defense that there is a continued theme of wisdom and teaching towards the Athenians.

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Socrates knew they were foolish because every man he met refused to admit their folly. Socrates, despite his awareness of his own ignorance and the limits of his knowledge and wisdom, considered himself the wisest of all men, much to the chagrin of the leading Athenians (Ivanovski, 2021). The People's

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His goal was to make the court understand his beliefs prove which type of knowledge is worth knowing. When talking about the wise man he examined, Socrates said, “Neither of us actually knows what Beauty and Goodness are, but he thinks he knows, even though he doesn’t; whereas I neither know nor think I know.” This shows that Socrates proved he was more wise than the titled wise man because instead of faking the knowledge, that wasn’t too important, he accepted that he did not know which would result in him then seeking for

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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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His unintentional leadership of his new wave of knowledge and exposure to the true nature of man, led to his conviction of corrupting of the youth. After his unlawful conviction, he views the law of Athens as being unjustifiable and corrupt, and he alludes that their response to the actions of exposing the truths, further uncovers their ignorance. To have a valid understanding the meaning of the Apology, one must evaluate the story as an entirety. When Socrates is first informed that he is the wisest man in all of Athens, he questions the authenticity of wisdom. His disbelief in the Said statement, moves him to conduct a study through questioning those within the city of Athens who were deemed wise.

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