Plato In The Apology Analysis

2. In the reading, “Apology” there are several things that Socrates is accused of. Which of the following is Socrates not accused of?

In Plato’s Five Dialogue Apology section, Plato records the actual speech that Socrates delivered in his own defense at the trial. Basically, Socrates is accused to the action of corrupting youth, which he taught norms and value to many people and charge a fee for it (19d6). He is also accused to the action of teaching spiritual things, for not believing in Athens god, and last but not least, Hubris, the question of human wisdom. Socrates, in fact, provides brilliant responses towards all accusations that are charged against him, saying that not one of them is true (19d5). Among these accusations, I will try to prove that Socrates is not guilty against the accusation that is charged to him in terms of the human wisdom, in which Socrates is accused of claiming to be the wisest man of all, a student of all things in the sky and below the earth (18b6).

After some time, Socrates finds himself standing at trial refuting the charges against him. He explains his innocence to the men of Athens that he hasn’t done any of the things they are saying he did. He also lets them know that even though he is said to possess an abundance of wisdom, he doesn’t believe that he does. Socrates tells them how the statements made by Delphi in fact left him bewildered. He asked Meletus and the jurors countless times to stand up and deliver sufficient proof of these accusations which they failed to do.

Socrates, a poor 70 year-old man, has been accused of corrupting the youth, not believing in the gods of the city, and for paying a fee for his teachings. His main accuser was Meletus, but both Anytus and Lycon supported Meletus’ accusations. Socrates fought against the three accusations in a dignified manner. First he discussed that he was not corrupting the youth on purpose, but if they were become corrupted by him on accident that he will stop. Additionally, he mentions that he is not asking for money for his teachings and that the youth have only become interested in his actions and have decided to follow him. He states that he only has the desire to find someone who is wiser than him because he does not believe what an oracle from Delphi

The Apology by Plato is about an outstanding philosopher named Socrates, who was seventy years old. Socrates was an individual that was searching for someone who is wiser than him. Instead of having good results on his quests they had a negative outcome. During 399 BC he was put to trial at the Agora of Athens by his accusers. The accusers were apart of his quest for determining who was the wisest. They accused him for corrupting the young, not believing in the Gods of the state but has other new divinities of his own, and for studying things in the heavens and below the Earth. His best protection is when he tells the jury about the confrontation between his friend Chaerephon and the Oracle of Delphi.

The people of Athens do not believe Socrates to the wisest of them all despite the fact that the oracle said he is, so they should be the ones accused for being

However, Socrates merely establishes that he is not an atheist; he does not rebut the formal charge against him—propagating the existence of other, non-traditional gods. In fact, towards the end of his defense speech, Socrates implicitly concedes his guilt; he rejects the notion that he is an atheist, and assert that he “believe[s]… [in gods] as none of [his] accusers does” (35d). Again, while Socrates passionately and convincingly repudiates charges of his atheism, he admits, right before the jury is to vote, that his belief in god or gods differs from the beliefs of those who hold power (i.e. “his accusers”) in Athens. Therefore, if Socrates openly acknowledges his belief in other diving beings, he surely is guilty of the latter part of the charge brought against him—“not believing in the gods whom the city believes”—and, being that he does not contest discussing his beliefs with the youth of Athens, Socrates is guilty of corrupting the city’s youth, under Athenian

At that end, Socrates claims he began to see himself as a representative of the oracle’s words; instead of pretending to know a great deal, he chose to profess his ignorance and be honest with himself about it (23e). To that end, he was able to act as himself and maintain his integrity. During the trial, Socrates holds everyone else to the same standard; when he talks about Meletus, his accuser, he calls him out on not actually caring about what he professes to care about – namely, the charges against Socrates. Through the trial, Socrates has proved not only Meletus do not care about the matter he mentioned in the charge, also he has no idea what is he talking about either a lot or a little, Socrates cleverly seduced Meletus go into his trap, by using the anger that Meletus hold against Socrates. Because obvious there are some much better answers for Meletus to answer.

Socrates then defended the second charge against him with logical arguments and facts of Athenian society, both of which made this part of his overall defense

Socrates opened his case by asking the jury to listen to him openly and to pardon him if he went into his usual style of speaking. His accusers had already spoken against him in the flowery manner common in courts of law. Socrates said that his accusers' speeches contained great refinement and skill, and he lacked the ability to speak so well. However, he said that he would speak the truth while his opponents lied. Socrates also stated that while his accusers’ speeches were

Since he had asked the audience at the beginning of his defense to not interrupt him even if something he said disturbed them, he now uses that to his advantage to and asked himself a question as if it were from a thoughtful member of the jury. The fictional person, Socrates uses to once again work his words around the court to make them think in the way that he wishes them too. He infers that his primary argument was sufficient and uses the query to lead into his next topic of discussion: his wisdom. Socrates’ has already made it know to the court that he is a wise man and he has eloquently persuaded them that he is not as bad a man as rumors would have them believe. During the second part of his argument, Socrates addresses in greater detail than the previous, his view of philosophy and takes a stance defending it. Interestingly enough, this is still being used to clear Socrates’ name and acquit him of his “crimes.” He seeks to clarify the reason that rumors about him came about in the first place. He speaks first of the Delphic Oracle and how the god told Chaerephon, regarding Socrates, that no man was wiser than he and how in an effort to bring a counter-argument to the god, the philosopher set out to interrogate men considered wise. Socrates also cites that another source of the Athenians’ distaste towards him was rooted in the youth that he taught, who

One relevant argument Socrates makes quite well is the fact that those bringing charges against him clearly dislike his character and actions. Socrates openly dissenting with political figureheads such as Meletus and Anytus which spurred their disdain for him. He uses this as a ploy to help his jury find him innocent. Though he is correct in asserting the charges against him are brought because his enemies want to see him dealt with, he is not correct in assuming they are inherently wrong in

The charges against Socrates were brought upon him by a man names Meletus. Meletus was a young man that Socrates did not know very well. These charges brought on by Meletus caused the indictment of Socrates. One of the charges in the affidavit written by Meletus against Socrates is that he is "corrupting the youth." Another charge that is brought upon Socrates is that of he is making up new Gods and disregarding the old Gods the Athenians believe in. These were the charges brought on Socrates.

Socrates is at the age of seventy and appearing in a law court for the first time. For the people of Socrates time is accusing Socrates, for miss leading the youth corrupting them and boasting about being wise, causing him to become very unpopular. Socrates says to the jury I am going to speak the whole truth, for it is me by myself that I have to defend. He says my accusers are many and I don’t know them, they say, “you should be careful not be deceived by an accomplished speaker like me” (Cohen, Curd, & Reeve, 2000). The accuser goes on to say that Socrates is accomplished speaker; Socrates starts to praise them, because their lies are so good well put together, that Socrates himself is almost convinced but then he says that they do not

Socrates begins his defense by asking the jury to clear their minds of the false venoms they heard about him, keep an open mind, and listen to what he has to say. It is important to note that before Socrates truly begins to defend himself, he apologizes to the jury and begs them to “disregard the manner of [his] speech—for perhaps it might be worse and perhaps better—and observe and pay attention merely to this, whether what [he] say is just or not,” 1 as he never stood before a jury before and does not know how these procedures go. Socrates states that he shall first defend himself against the early and false accusations made against him throughout the