Platos Apology Of Socrates Essay

INTRODUCTION Plato makes it clear, especi aloney in his Apology of Socrates, that he was peerless of Socrates devoted young followers. In that dialogue, Socrates is seted as mentioning Plato by name as one of those youths close enough to him to have been corrupted, if he were in fact guilty of corrupting the youth,1 and questioning why their fathers and brothers did not step antecedent to testify against him if he was indeed guilty of such a crime. The relationship between Plato and Socrates is not unproblematic.The charges against Socrates says that he has two sets of accusations the old, longstanding charges that he is a criminal, a busybody, and a searching person who makes inquiries into the earth and sky, and the recent legal charges that he is guilty of corrupting the young, and of believing in weird things of his own invention instead of the gods recognized by the State.2 Which he terms as charges stemmed from years of gossip and prejudice against him and hence was un sta teable. The trial of Socrates is the central, unifying event of the great Platonic dialogues.The causes that occasioned this Apology were as follow Aristophanes, at the instigation of Mellitus, undertook, in his comedy of the clouds, to ridicule the venerable character of Socrates, on the st eld and the way being once open to obloquy and defamation, the fickle and licentious populace paid no reverence to the philosopher, whom they had before regarded as a being of a superior order.3When this had succeeded, Melitus stood forth to criminate him, in concert with Anytus and Lycon and the philosopher was summoned before the tribunal of the Five Hundred. He was accused of making innovations in the religion of his country, and corrupting the youth. However, as both these accusations moldiness have been obviously wild to an unprejudiced tribunal, the accusers relied for the success of their cause on perjured witnesses, and the envy of the judges, whose ignorance would readily yield to mi srepresentation, and be influenced and guided by false eloquence and fraudulent arts.In the Apology, Socrates tries to toss out rumors that he is a sophist and defends himself against charges of disbelief in the gods and corruption of the young. Socrates insists that long-standing slander will be the real cause of his demise, and says the legal charges are essentially false. Socrates gorgeously denies being wise, and explains how his life as a philosopher was launched by the oracle at Delphi. He says that his quest to resolve the riddle of the oracle put him at betting odds with his fellow man, and that this is the reason he has been mistaken for a menace to the city-state of Athens.THE APOLOGY of SOCRATES Socrates begins by saying he does not go through if the men of Athens (his panel) description often says gentlemen, have been persuaded by his accusers.4 Plato often begins his Socratic dialogues with words that indicate the overall idea of the dialogue in this case, I do not know. Indeed, in the Apology Socrates will suggest that philosophy consists entirely of a sincere admission of ignorance, and that whatever wisdom he has, comes from his knowledge that he knows goose egg.Socrates asks the jury to judge him not by his oratorical skills, entirely by the truth. Socrates says he will not use ornate words and phrases that are carefully arranged, but will speak the chance thoughts that come into his head. I know not, O Athenians, how my accusers may affect you I indeed have through them almost forgotten myself, so persuasively have they spoken though, as I may say, they have not asserted any thing, which is true.However, among the multitude of their false assertions I am most surprised at this, in which they say that you ought to beware of being deceived by me, as if I were an eloquent speaker. For that, they should not be ashamed of take a firm stand that which I will immediately confute in reality, since in the present instance I shall face to you to be by no means eloquent, this seems to me to be the consummation of impudence unless they call him eloquent who speaks the truth.The three men who brought the charges against Socrates were Anytus, son of a prominent Athenian, Anthemion. Anytus makes an important cameo appearance in Meno. Anytus appears unexpectedly while Socrates and Meno are discussing the acquisition of virtue. Having taken the position that virtue cannot be taught, Socrates adduces as evidence for this that many prominent Athenians have produced sons inferior to themselves. Socrates says this, and then getting even to name names, including Pericles and Thucydides. Anytus becomes very offended, and warns Socrates that running people down could get him into trouble someday.Meletus, the only accuser to speak during Socrates defense. He is mentioned in another dialog, Euthyphro, but does not appear in person. Socrates says there that Meletus is a young unknown with hooknose. In the Apology, Meletus allows himself to be cross-examined by Socrates and stumbles into a trap. Apparently not paying attention to the very charges he is bringing, he accuses Socrates of atheism and apparently, of believing in demi-gods.Lycon, about whom little is known he was, according to Socrates, a representative of the orators.O Athenian, I should answer the startle false accusations of me, and my first accusers, Socrates claims to never have been a teacher, in the sense of imparting knowledge to others. He cannot therefore be held responsible if any citizen turns bad. If he has corrupted anyone, why have they not come forward to be witnesses? Alternatively, if they do not realize that they have been corrupted, why have their relatives not stepped forward on their behalf? Many relatives of the young men associated with him, Socrates points out, are presently in the courtroom to support him.5For many have been accusers of me to you for many years, and who have asserted nothing true, of whom I am more afraid than of Anytus and his accomplices, though these indeed are powerful in persuading but those are still more so, who having been conversant with many of you from infancy, have persuaded you, and accused me falsely.6 For they have said, that there is one Socrates, a wise man, studious of things on high, and exploring every thing under the earth, and of believing in supernatural things of his own invention instead of the gods recognized by the State. These men, O Athenians, who spread this report, are my dire accusers.For those who hear it think that such as investigate these things do not believe that there are gods.7 In the next place, these accusers are numerous, and have accused me for a long time. They also said these things to you in that age in which you would most readily believe them, some of you being boys and lads and they accused me quietly, no one speaking in my defence. Such however, as have persuaded you by employing envy and calumny, together with those who being persuaded t hemselves have persuaded others.Consider, therefore, as I have said, that my accusers are twofold, some having accused me lately, and others formerly and think that it is necessary I should answer the latter of these first for you also have heard these my accusers, and much more than you have those by whom I have been recently accused. Be it so. I must defend myself then, O Athenians, and endeavor in this so short a space of time to remove from you the calumny that you have so long entertained.I wish, therefore, that this defence may effect something better both for you and me, and that it may contribute to some more important end. I think however that it will be attended with difficulty, and I am not entirely ignorant what the difficulty is. At the same time let this terminate as Divinity pleases. It is my subscriber line to obey the law, and to make my apology.8ConclusionSocrates concludes this part of the Apology by reminding the jurors that he will not resort to the usual emoti ve tricks and arguments. He will not break down in tears, nor will he produce his three sons in the hope of swaying the jurors. He does not fear finale nor will he act in a way contrary to his religious duty. He will rely solely on sound argument and the truth to present his case.9Socrates punishment speech angered the jurors.360 of them voted for the death penalty only 141 voted for a fine of 3,000 drachmae. Now Socrates has to respond to the verdict. He first addresses those who voted for death. He claims that it is not a lack of arguments that has resulted in his condemnation, but rather his unwillingness to stoop to the usual emotive appeals expected of any defendant facing death. Again, he insists that the prospect of death does not absolve one from following the path of goodness and truth.To those who voted for his acquittal, Socrates gives them encouragement He says that his daimon did not stop him from conducting his defence in the way that he did as a sign that it was the right thing to do. Therefore, death must be a blessing. It is either an annihilation (thus bringing eternal peace from all worries, and therefore not something to be truly afraid of) or a migration to another place to meet souls of famous people such as Hesiod and kor and heroes like Odysseus. With these, Socrates can continue his task of questioning.BibliographyLeo Strauss. Socrates and Aristophanic. New York, 1966.1 Pp 82-22 Pp83- 23 Pp 84-14 Pp 82-25pp143-16 Pp 138-27 Pp 84-28 Pp 180-29 Pp163-4