Apology (Plato)

The Apology of Socrates, written by Plato, is an important story about a famous thinker named Socrates. It tells us about the speech Socrates gave when he stood on trial in the city of Athens in the year 399 BC. Socrates was accused of two things: corrupting the young people and not believing in the same gods that everyone else in the city believed in.

In this speech, Socrates defends himself against these charges. He explains why he thinks and acts the way he does and talks about his life as a philosopher. This story is one of four important conversations written by Plato that show the last days of Socrates’s life. The others are called Euthyphro, Phaedo, and Crito. Many scholars discuss how accurate this story is, but it remains a key piece in understanding what happened to Socrates during his trial.

The Apology of Socrates helps us learn about the ideas and values that were important in ancient Greece, especially about questioning and searching for truth. It shows us how one person can stand up for what they believe, even when faced with serious challenges.

The text of Apology

The Apology of Socrates, written by the philosopher Plato (429–347 BC), explains how Socrates defended himself in court. Socrates faced charges of harming young people and not following the city's religious beliefs. This book is one of many explanations about Socrates's defense, written shortly after his trial in 399 BC. Even though some thinkers later thought of it as fiction, it still helps us learn about Socrates, who lived from 469 to 399 BC. The book shows Socrates speaking in his own words, sharing his thoughts and answers during the trial. We know that Plato, the writer of this book, was actually there during Socrates's trial.

Introduction

The Apology of Socrates is a story about a trial. It starts with Socrates speaking to a group of Athenian men who are acting as judges. He wonders if they have been influenced by three men—Lycon, Anytus, and Meletus—who accused Socrates of teaching young people to behave badly and not respecting the city’s gods.

Socrates tells the judges that he is not used to speaking in fancy ways like lawyers do. He says he will speak simply and honestly, just as he always has. He believes that true wisdom means knowing that you don’t know everything. Even when given a chance to say something to avoid punishment, Socrates chooses to stay true to himself. In the end, the judges decide that Socrates should be punished by death.

Accusers of Socrates

In ancient Athens, three men accused the philosopher Socrates of not respecting the city's beliefs and leading young people astray. These accusations were supported by important groups in society.

The first accuser was Anytus, a wealthy and well-known citizen who did not like people called Sophists. Socrates said Anytus was upset because he felt Socrates was disrespecting workers and leaders. Anytus once met Socrates and another man, Meno, while they were talking about good qualities. Anytus got upset by what they were saying and warned Socrates that his words might cause trouble.

The second accuser was Meletus, who spoke for the group during Socrates's defence. Socrates thought Meletus was just following Anytus's lead. During the trial, Socrates questioned Meletus, and they had a confusing discussion about beliefs and the gods.

The third accuser was Lycon, who stood for teachers of speaking and arguing. Socrates believed Lycon was upset because he thought Socrates was linked to a bad group that had hurt his son. Lycon also appeared in a funny play by a writer named Aristophanes and later became a successful leader in Athens.

Accusations

In his defence at trial, Socrates faced two main accusations: impiety against the gods of Athens by introducing new ideas, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates explained that these old accusations came from years of gossip and unfair opinions about him. He mentioned that a play by the poet Aristophanes, called The Clouds, had made fun of him years before, calling him a trickster who questioned everything. But Socrates said he was not like those tricksters who charge money for teaching; he was poor and did not claim to be wise.

Socrates defended himself against the accusation of impiety by saying he was not a wise man. He told the court that a friend had asked the Oracle of Delphi if anyone was wiser than Socrates, and the Oracle said no one was. Socrates was surprised because he knew he wasn’t wise, so he spent his time talking to people who were thought to be wise—like leaders, poets, and scholars—to test their knowledge. He found that while some were very clever, none truly knew everything they thought they did.

When it came to the accusation of corrupting young people, Socrates explained that wealthy young men in Athens had little to do, so they followed him around as he questioned others. They imitated his way of talking, and when Socrates pointed out problems in the arguments of others, those people sometimes got angry and accused Socrates instead of looking at their own mistakes.

The dialogue

The Apology of Socrates, written by Plato, is a discussion about a speech Socrates gave when he was put on trial in 399 BC. The speech has three parts: Socrates defending himself, the jury deciding his fate, and Socrates' words after the verdict.

In his defence, Socrates tells the jury that his enemies have misled people about him, especially when they were young. He talks about being questioned by people in Athens and how this made him known as someone who asks many questions. Socrates defends himself against claims that he taught wrong ideas to young people or did not respect the gods. He believes that fearing death without knowing what it is shows ignorance. Socrates says that following what is right is more important than following laws if they conflict.

After being found guilty, Socrates suggests that instead of punishment, he should be treated well for helping Athens. When this is rejected, he suggests a small fine, but the jury still decides he should die. Socrates accepts this calmly, believing that death might not be bad. He tells the jury he holds no anger toward them and asks Athenians to guide his sons to live with virtue.

Adaptations

Socrates on Trial: A Play Based on Aristophane's Clouds and Plato's Apology, Crito, and Phaedo Adapted for Modern Performance (2007), by Andrew David Irvine, is a modern play that shows Socrates as a philosopher and person. It uses ideas from The Clouds (423 BC), by Aristophanes, and three discussions by Plato: the Apology of Socrates, the Crito, and the Phaedo.

Roberto Rossellini’s 1971 television film Socrates takes most of its story and words from this discussion.

Texts and translations

You can find the original Greek text and many translations of Plato's works online. Some popular versions include translations by Harold North Fowler and Chris Emlyn-Jones with William Preddy. These are part of collections like the Loeb Classical Library and are available through places like the Internet Archive. There are also complete works of Plato published by Hackett, and a collection called The Last Days of Socrates translated by Hugh Tredennick. Additionally, you can find four important texts about Socrates, including Plato's Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, along with Aristophanes' Clouds, translated by Thomas G. West and Grace Starry West.