Critical Analysis of Plato’s Apology 40c-42a
Critical Analysis of Plato’s Apology 40c-42a
Plato’s Apology is one of the most well-known pieces of Plato’s writing today, perhaps due to a certain dramatic style and context that can appeal to any reader. The ‘Apology’ is the defence speech of Socrates before the court at a trial for his life. He has been accused of deliberately corrupting the young and of non-belief in the Athenians’ gods. It is widely accepted that this is a true event, Socrates was tried, found guilty and put to death. What is not known for certain is the accuracy of Plato’s account of his defence. David Leibowitz tells us that the Greek title is ambiguous and could mean a defence speech either for or by Socrates. From this it is hard to discern if the Apology as we know it was written by Plato or Socrates, or if indeed it is Plato’s carefully edited version of Socrates actual speech. To understand and take the most from the speech we must forget the issue of authenticity. This is at least the defence speech of Plato’s Socrates and there is much to be gained from close reading of the entire text.
The ‘Apology’ covers a number of important themes and issues that are dear to Socrates and relevant to his defence. From the outset he attempts to show that he is not guilty of these crimes or at the very least if he is, it is not deliberate as the charge states and that he should not be punished but enlightened as to his mistakes (25e-26a). He discusses issues of harm done to oneself through doing harm to others, belief in gods and his own divine charge (21a-21b) amongst others but he is, perhaps inevitably, pronounced guilty. This pronouncement sparks the issue of death that becomes a dominant theme for the rest of the speech and the end of the speech in particular when he has been denied any alternative punishment. In the passage for analysis here the main points of discussion are death as a good or an evil, death as annihilation or death as a transmigration of the soul and briefly, some
Plato’s Apology is one of the most well-known pieces of Plato’s writing today, perhaps due to a certain dramatic style and context that can appeal to any reader. The ‘Apology’ is the defence speech of Socrates before the court at a trial for his life. He has been accused of deliberately corrupting the young and of non-belief in the Athenians’ gods. It is widely accepted that this is a true event, Socrates was tried, found guilty and put to death. What is not known for certain is the accuracy of Plato’s account of his defence. David Leibowitz tells us that the Greek title is ambiguous and could mean a defence speech either for or by Socrates. From this it is hard to discern if the Apology as we know it was written by Plato or Socrates, or if indeed it is Plato’s carefully edited version of Socrates actual speech. To understand and take the most from the speech we must forget the issue of authenticity. This is at least the defence speech of Plato’s Socrates and there is much to be gained from close reading of the entire text.
The ‘Apology’ covers a number of important themes and issues that are dear to Socrates and relevant to his defence. From the outset he attempts to show that he is not guilty of these crimes or at the very least if he is, it is not deliberate as the charge states and that he should not be punished but enlightened as to his mistakes (25e-26a). He discusses issues of harm done to oneself through doing harm to others, belief in gods and his own divine charge (21a-21b) amongst others but he is, perhaps inevitably, pronounced guilty. This pronouncement sparks the issue of death that becomes a dominant theme for the rest of the speech and the end of the speech in particular when he has been denied any alternative punishment. In the passage for analysis here the main points of discussion are death as a good or an evil, death as annihilation or death as a transmigration of the soul and briefly, some
Bibliography: of sources: • Jowett, B. ‘Selected Dialogues of Plato’ (2000) Modern Library Press (New York) • Kraut, R. ed. ‘The Cambridge Companion to Plato’ (1992) Cambridge University Press (London) • Leibowitz, David. ‘The Ironic Defence of Socrates: Plato’s Apology’ (2010) Cambridge University Press (London) • Press, G.A. ‘Plato, A Guide for the Perplexed’ (2007) Cromwell Press ltd. (Wiltshire) • Tarrant, H., Tredennick, H. ‘Plato: The Last Days of Socrates’ (2003) Penguin Classics (London) • West, T.G. ‘Plato’s Apology of Socrates’ (1979) Ithica & London (London)