Philosophy Paper
Plato’s Apology Essay Topic 1
In Apology written by Plato, Socrates is accused and charged with exploiting the youth and leading them into doubting the Gods recognized by the people of Athens. In Socrates’ speech, he is actually defending and speaking for himself. Although the modern understanding of the world Apology is to feel bad and admit to a wrongdoing, the word Apology in the title refers back to the Greek word Apologia, which means defense or justification of a belief. When Socrates is called upon the court, he respectfully asks if he can represent himself and if he could use his own strategy, which is elenchus to debate in court. The judge approves and in effect, Socrates asks questions to defend himself. Socrates claims that he knows almost nothing, but there are also things he claims to know. To my belief, Socrates does contradict himself but who doesn’t ever contradict themselves? I conclude that it is conventional for Socrates to contradict himself because no matter who we are, we are bound to say a few things that contradict each other.
Socrates claims that he is different from other men in that he does not think he knows something when he in fact does not. What he means is that the men that claim to be wise and containing knowledge actually know nothing. Socrates knows nothing as well, but the difference is that he realizes it. After being told by the Oracle that Socrates was the wisest, Socrates goes out with the intentions of disproving the Oracle’s paradox. Surprisingly enough, Socrates ends up proving the paradox. Through the test, Socrates found that many men, who were considered wise, were actually very ignorant. In opposition to Socrates’ claim of being different from other men in that he does not think he knows something when he in fact does not; Socrates claims that he knows almost nothing, but there are also things he claims to know. Taking these two statements and analyzing it, I find that there is a contradiction. Socrates
In Apology written by Plato, Socrates is accused and charged with exploiting the youth and leading them into doubting the Gods recognized by the people of Athens. In Socrates’ speech, he is actually defending and speaking for himself. Although the modern understanding of the world Apology is to feel bad and admit to a wrongdoing, the word Apology in the title refers back to the Greek word Apologia, which means defense or justification of a belief. When Socrates is called upon the court, he respectfully asks if he can represent himself and if he could use his own strategy, which is elenchus to debate in court. The judge approves and in effect, Socrates asks questions to defend himself. Socrates claims that he knows almost nothing, but there are also things he claims to know. To my belief, Socrates does contradict himself but who doesn’t ever contradict themselves? I conclude that it is conventional for Socrates to contradict himself because no matter who we are, we are bound to say a few things that contradict each other.
Socrates claims that he is different from other men in that he does not think he knows something when he in fact does not. What he means is that the men that claim to be wise and containing knowledge actually know nothing. Socrates knows nothing as well, but the difference is that he realizes it. After being told by the Oracle that Socrates was the wisest, Socrates goes out with the intentions of disproving the Oracle’s paradox. Surprisingly enough, Socrates ends up proving the paradox. Through the test, Socrates found that many men, who were considered wise, were actually very ignorant. In opposition to Socrates’ claim of being different from other men in that he does not think he knows something when he in fact does not; Socrates claims that he knows almost nothing, but there are also things he claims to know. Taking these two statements and analyzing it, I find that there is a contradiction. Socrates