Preview

Plato's First Apology Of Socrates

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
596 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Plato's First Apology Of Socrates
Plato, who was a pupil of Socrates and a famous philosopher, represents the four dialogues during the time from the beginnings of Socrates' trial in Athens to the day of his execution. Also he examines themes regarding of the essence of existence, the nature of death, and the value of wisdom. The first dialogue is a "Euthyphro," which is the name of the first citizen who involves Socrates in dialogue. The two men encounter one another outside the Athenian version of the law courts, where Socrates is about to go on trial for corrupting the youth of the city and Euthyphro is about to bring charges of murder against his father. The two men discussion the natures of both piety and justice. Their conversation ending when Socrates proves to Euthyphro that his (Euthyphro's) actions are not what he believes them to be, and Euthyphro leaves in confusion.
The Apology, which is a second dialog of Plato, represent of Socrates’s speech that he proclaims at the trial in which he is
…show more content…
He also engages Miletus, his chief accuser, in debate, attempting to prove to both Miletus and the court that the case against him has no merit. But his efforts are in vain, however: the narrative describes how Socrates is found guilty of the charges against him and is sentenced to death, a consequence that Socrates accepts with realism and humor.
The third dialogue, "Crito," takes place in Socrates' prison cell, where he is visited by a wealthy friend, Crito, who urges him to take advantage of the offers of support from him and other wealthy Athenians, and escape. Socrates gratefully refuses, explaining that his sense of loyalty to the state and its judgment, which he believes to be inspired by the pure principle of justice, is too

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In The Apology by Plato, the accusations that was brought against Socrates during his trial, that he was worshipping new gods, corrupting the young. Even after providing services to the Athens he was being executed by the Athens for influencing young men not to join the Athens. Socrates is one of the few individuals whom one could say has so-shaped the cultural and intellectual development of the world that, without him Socrates had influenced Plato to not to have a career in the political world as an Athens Socrates. Plato was a disciple of Socrates. The apology was an attempt to defend the character of Socrates by showing him in an honest and sympathetic. Plato wanted to preserve Socrates reputation, and to him as a great mentor.…

    • 127 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Plato’s Apology Socrates is not really apologizing. He is not sorry for his actions, he is defending them. Socrates forms his argument as more of a conversation than a formal speech. This is because he is not familiar with the way that the courts of the law work, so he will speak the way he is used to speaking. Socrates explains that his behavior came from being told that he is the wisest of all men by the oracle Delphi. He decides that since he is ignorant to things that most men have knowledge of, he must be the wisest because he knows nothing. He decides that it is his duty to question all of the other men to uncover their ignorance and lack of wisdom. The younger people like this, but the men being questioned hate him for this.…

    • 199 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Socrates looks to the priest to tell him what exactly is pious so that he may educate himself as to why he would be perceived as impious. Found in the Apology, another of Plato's Five Dialogues, Socrates aims to defend his principles to the five hundred and one person jury. Finally, the Crito, an account of Socrates' final discussion with his good friend Crito, Socrates is offered an opportunity to escape the prison and his death sentence. As is known, Socrates rejected the suggestion. It is in the Euthyphro and the Apology that it can be deduced that Socrates is not guilty as charged, he had done nothing wrong and he properly defended himself. However, in the Crito, it is shown that Socrates is guilty only in the interpretation and enforcement of Athens' laws through the court system and its jurors. Socrates' accusations of being blasphemous are also seen as…

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Phi Euthyphro

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This discussion wraps around the reason Socrates is on trial and his standing on piety in which he wishes not to follow. When speaking to Euthyphro, Socrates uses this moment to help himself understand what the meaning of piety is to himself and emits to Euthyphro that he does not know.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the story of Crito, Socrates is in prison and awaiting his execution that he was found guilty by corrupting the youth and also supporting other gods that the city of Athens did not. Throughout his trial, Socrates argued each of the things he was charged for and made it very clear that it was not just for him to be found guilty for these actions. The jury ended up finding Socrates guilty through a very slim vote that was not necessarily fair by any means. As Socrates sat in his cell, one of his very faithful friends, Crito, decided to come talk to him. He gave Socrates the opportunity to escape prison and live the life of a wanted man instead of facing his execution. As the story of Crito goes on, he asks himself a number of questions deciding on what he was going to do and whether it would be just or unjust for him to escape prison. Socrates eventually decided that he was going to stay in prison and face his execution instead of escaping, for the act of escaping prison would be unjust and breaking the laws of the city. I agree with Socrates’ decision that he made and feel like he did the just thing by facing his execution.…

    • 1264 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Plato's Apology, Socrates a philosopher is standing trial for charges that are not easily proven. Socrates has two sets of charges brought against him the “old” charges that Socrates claims that have been talked about for a very long time “there are many of these accusers, and they have been accusing me for a long time now.”(Plato 18c) His second set of charges known as the “new’ charges represent more straight forward claims. New charges called onto Socrates is that he is guilty of corrupting the youth as well as not believing in the gods in which the city chooses to believe in. Despite accusation for many of these false crimes Socrates is allowed a chance to argue his position against his accusers, which is what Socrates does best. However…

    • 1096 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Interlocutor Vs Meno

    • 1706 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In this dialogue, Socrates is attempting to defense himself at the trial and prove his innocence, while others are trying to put him to death for introducing strange gods and corrupting the youth. Socrates's first sentence sets the tone and direction for the whole dialogue. Socrates, in addressing the men of Athens, states that he almost forgets who he is because of…

    • 1706 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are numerous charges against Socrates in the reading of The Apology. The basic charges against him include impiety, corrupting the youth, and theorizing about unknown topics. He does not believe in the gods that the state does, and therefore seeks for natural explanations to processes that occur in the world around him. He did not recognize the gods and introduced other new divinities. Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth. Due to the constant asking of questions and inquiry, it lead him to try to discover new things about life. Since he looked for natural reason, he began to teach others about his understandings. His followers soon began to imitate his methods and expose other people as unwise which was a threat to the order…

    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In both Crito & Apology Plato presents Socrates’ argues clearly and succinctly. The claims and arguments constructed in the Crito ultimately lead to the conclusion that ‘a failure to persuade ones government, one must diligently obey the orders of…

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech. Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new gods, and corrupting the youth of Athens. For the most part, Socrates speaks in a very plain, conversational manner. He explains that he has no experience with the law courts and that he will instead speak in the manner to which he is accustomed with honesty and directness. Socrates then proceeds to interrogate Meletus, the man primarily responsible for bringing Socrates before the jury. He strongly attacks Meletus for wasting the court¡¦s time on such absurd charges. He then argues that if he corrupted the young he did so unknowingly since Socrates believes that one never deliberately acts wrongly. If Socrates neither did not corrupt the young nor did so unknowingly, then in both cases he should not be brought to trial. The other charge is the charge of impiety. This is when…

    • 1653 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin, Socrates did not believe in the same gods as Athens, the easiest of his convictions to prove because of his Apology. In his plea, Socrates distracts the jury with stories of disbelievers. As the defense begins, he does not say that he does believe or disbelieve in the gods of Athens, since the easiest answer for an innocent man is “I did not do it.” Instead, he takes a route of disapproval and disbelief that this charge was brought up against him, “Socrates does injustice by not believing in gods, but believing in gods (p.77 27a),” he says in a mocking manner that is meant to make the jury question themselves. He further twists and turns the accusation by saying similar things; is there such thing as one who “believes… in human matters but not humans,” “not believing… in horse matters but believing in horses,” and “not believing in flute players, but believes in flute matter (p.77, 27a-b)?” To finish his point, he makes a final example of the atrocity of the charge against him, “Is there anyone who believes that there are daimonic matters, but does not believe in daimons (p.77, 27c)?” This argument…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Platos Apology

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, 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. Thus, in The Apology, Socrates attempts to defend himself and his conduct--certainly not to apologize for it.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Plato's Apology Analysis

    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Meletus accuses the philosopher of corrupting the youth as oppose to bettering them. Socrates is also arraigned with being a sophist, making the bad look good, not believing in god - or at least not recognizing the gods worshiped by society and finally, being an outright ‘evil-doer’. During his speech, Socrates first addresses Aristophanes (A playwright of Athens), and his pursuit to make Socrates out to be a bit of a trash-talker who claims he can walk through air along with other absurdities. Socrates claims that although he is a teacher of philosophy, he does not charge. Even though frowned upon Socrates admires anyone that possess such great knowledge and is able to charge for their teachings. In a modest manner he states, “Had I the same, I should have been very proud and conceited; but the truth is that I have no knowledge of that kind.” This is important because it aids in the proving of Socrates innocence, being that if he was indeed such a pompous, conceited philosopher he would not be able to admit his lack of knowledge. Throughout the excerpt Socrates makes reference to many stories in effort of proving to the jury before him how he acquired such an atrocious reputation. Socrates mentions that he believes the only reason he was put on trial was because Meletus does not like him for possessing such unique…

    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Platos Apology

    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Socrates sticks to he is innocent and anyone that knows him knows he is telling the truth. The prosecutors will do anything to prove otherwise and encourage other people like maletus to think the accusation against Socrates is true. Socrates says, “what is the accusation which has given rise to the slander of me, in the fact has encouraged Melatus to proof this charge against me.”(1-2) Socrates knows they are encouraging the lie about him and want to prove him guilty. When Socrates says,“rise of the slander of me”(1-2) he is saying this accusation everyone is trying to say is true about him is…

    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Apology was written by Plato, and set in the courtroom of Socrates ' trial. Socrates acts as the speaker addressing the jury, though there is one scene where he goes into a dialogue with Meletus. The defense begins with a line that sets the mood for the rest of his speech: "I don 't know, men of Athens, how you were affected by my accusers. I was almost carried away by them, they spoke so persuasively. And yet almost nothing they said is true." (17a) The beginning compares Socrates to the Sophists, arguing there is a difference between what is "truth" and what is "persuasion". He makes a strong point that persuading someone does not constitute it is true. Rather, he will address the rest of his defense in his own manner, rather than in "elegant language" (17c) in order to bring out the "truth".…

    • 1367 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays