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Critically analyze Socrates arguments in apology
Analysis of socrates apology
Analysis of socrates apology
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In the “normal” world many individuals would not use a trial to reaffirm their ideals or philosophy particularly if they life was on the line. In that analysis, I disagree with you because even that is seems a wrongful action for the “normal” world it was a normal behavior that goes in accordance with who was Socrates and what his philosophical ideas where. Socrates Apology was more than a reaffirmation of Socrates believes and views in my opinion it was an alibi to prove his innocence. In general, Socrates actions should be an inspiration to fight for what is Good and to him that was Virtue. For than we can say that Socrates was defending his
After reading “The Apology of Socrates”, I feel very strongly that Socrates was innocent in the allegations against him. “The Apology of Socrates” was written by Plato, Socrates most trusted pupil, who in fact wrote everything for Socrates. Numerous times in his defense, Socrates points out ways that what he is being accused of is false. The point of this paper is to show how Socrates did this, and to explain how he proved his innocence by using these quotes. He uses a lot of questions to the accusers to prove his points and is very skilled in speech and knowledge. This essay’s purpose is to explain why I think Socrates was innocent, and how he proves that in his speech.
First of all, there was no legitimate reason Socrates should have been brought to court and absolutely no reason he should have been found guilty. Socrates lived a humble, poor life so that he could spread his wise words throughout the land. He was not boastful and he did not preach anything that he did not believe himself. “It seems
Through my reading of Plato's Apology of Socrates and Crito, I have been able to see how Socrates makes important decisions and what he primarily bases his decisions on. As a individual person we have individual morals which lead us to our own moral or immoral decisions. Sometimes are own morals or beliefs might oppose the views of the state or the enforced law that clams to find justice. In this case we rely on our own beliefs that may be through passed down morals or through ones belief in a higher power to find justice. In my view I feel that Socrates respects the states law and ability to find justice but is willing to question it when his own morals or views on justice conflict with the states. With this idea in mind, I feel that Socrates would also take the same actions as Antigone in Sophocles's Antigone.
The author of “The Apology,” Benjamin Jowett, supports his ideas of Socrates by explaining the judgmental views that were made towards Socrates. Socrates is forced to face the jury of Athens due to his gadfly role on the streets on Athens. The citizens of Athens were willing to tolerate persons who could give persuasive speeches and make great shows of rhetoric, but they had no room for Socrates, who was questioning and investigations threatened to undermine a public culture of conformity to traditional authority. Eventually, the practice of philosophy cost Socrates his life. “I would have you know, if you kill such a one as I am, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me,” Socrates states. Socrates thought that no good man could be harmed; as long as you are doing good then harm cannot affect you. Socrates was told he was the smartest man in Athens, which motivated him to go on the streets to prove he was not. The author proves this point by stating what Socrates says to the jury, “Here is a man who is wiser than I am but you said that I was the wisest.” Socrates went...
During this essay the trail of Socrates found in the Apology of Plato will be reviewed. What will be looked at during this review is how well Socrates rebuts the charges made against him. We will also talk about if Socrates made the right decision to not escape prison with Crito. Socrates was a very intelligent man; this is why this review is so critical.
Plato was the author of the Apology of Socrates, which was one of the four major works of ancient Greek literature. Though the title was the Apology of Socrates, the text referred to the defense speeches of Socrates against the Athenian council. At the end, Socrates was found to be guilty and was sentenced to death. However, the Athenian council was not acting justly because Socrates did nothing wrong as he had successfully developed a reasonable logic against the charges. I will address this notion through the analysis of the arguments and the logic that Socrates used to conduct his defense.
In the opening of The Apology, Socrates informed the jurors how he intends to address them, what they should pay attention to in his remarks, and what he sees as his greatest obstacle in gaining an acquittal. How does he intend to address the jury? Socrates’ approach towards addressing the jury is way different than what you would see a normal defendant doing. Socrates does not stand in front of the jury and beg that he doesn’t get charged. Instead, Socrates believes that you shouldn’t have to cry and beg for the right to live in court if the defendant has done nothing wrong. The first thing that he says when speaking to the jury was to basically hear him out, and listen to even if he started to talk in his language of habit. He then said they should excuse that because he is seventy years old and has never appeared in court. “I must beg of you to grant me one favor, If you hear me using the same words in my defense which I have been in habit of using, and which most of you may have heard in the agora, and at the table of the money-changers, or anywhere else, I would ask you to not be surprised at this, and bot to interrupt me (Dover p. 19).”
Socrates was not guilty as charged; he had done nothing wrong, as seen in the Apology. Not even a priest could tell Socrates what he had done wrong religiously, Euthyphro wasn’t even able to give Socrates a precise definition of piety. It is then questioned by Crito why Socrates would remain to face a penalty for a crime he did not commit. In the Crito, it is explained why, although innocent, Socrates must accept the penalties his peers have set upon him. It is his peers that will interpret and enforce the laws, not the law which will enforce it. Even if the enforcers don’t deserve attention and respect because they have no real knowledge to the situation, Socrates had put himself under their judgment by going to the trial. Therefore, Socrates must respect the decisions made by the masses because the decisions are made to represent the laws, which demand each citizen’s respect.
In the Apology, Socrates is “guilty” with three new charges that consist of corrupting the youth, not acknowledging the gods acknowledged in the city, and introducing new divinities. Throughout all the accusations, Socrates remains calm and thoughtful; such a clever man he is. Socrates then presents a remarkably multilevel strong defense, proving his innocence.
The Apology is an account by Plato of the prosecution of Socrates who was brought to face prosecution for the first time in Athens in front of an open Athenian court comprised of approximately 500 juries (Plato, Tredennick, & Tarrant, 2003, p.33). As Socrates begins his defense, he names his accusers Meletus, Anytus and Lycon who represent the grievances on behalf of various sections of the population. Meletus represents the grievances of the poets, Anytus represents the professional men and politicians, and Lycon represents the grievances of the orators (Plato, Tredennick, & Tarrant, 2003, p.47). Socrates states to the jury that he is not well versed in the language of the court, and asks that they both accommodate his manner of speech, and
It is clear to the reader that Socrates is skilled in rhetorical dialogue. When taken down to their core, his arguments are just and portray confidence, an attribute seen in someone who is well versed in rhetoric. Unfortunately, however, the jurymen, who are tasked in determining Socrates’s fate, reject his arguments and sentence him to death. Socrates’s main fault is that he completely misaddresses his target audience, his argument against his corruption of the youth falls on deaf ears and his entire defense is for naught. In order to analyze Socrates argument, one must first look at any strong points, before pointing out rhetorical flaws of his and proposing alterations to his arguments.
Socrates concludes the Apology by arguing that a just man should have no fear of death. Socrates defends himself against the charges brought against him by his prosecutor Meletus in two ways. One way consists of a description of Socrates’ motivation and method, which he hopes will explain to the jury why some people, including his prosecutors, dislike him. The second defense consists of Socrates responding directly to the two charges brought against him: “corrupting the young” and impiety, or more specifically, “not believing in the gods in whom the city believes” (p. 28). I’ll address these two lines of defense in turn.
As you continue to read along this long speech “The Apology”, it is indeed not written by Socrates. In fact, it was his apprentice Plato that had written this for the trial that Socrates was charged for. The many things that Socrates was put onto trial were not recognizing the gods that are being worshipped day to day, inventing new deities, and corrupting the young Athenian minds. You would think that this would be an apology from Socrates, but the more you read, the more it leads away from an apology. In “The Apology”, Socrates attempts to defend himself and his actions, but most definitely not apologizing.
In the Apology by Plato, Socrates made many bold and inspiring statements leading the reader to have to interpret it on their own terms. He stated, “I am likely to be wiser . . . to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know” (21d). Later, Socrates went on to say, “I go around doing nothing but persuading both young and old among you not to care for your body or your wealth in preference to or as strongly as for the best possible state of your soul” (30a-b). These statements and how they support one another can only be understood by analyzing what is wisdom, excellence, and who is fit to teach these to others.
The Apology, written by Plato, is an account of the trial in which a 70 year old Socrates defends himself for charges of corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates delivers his defense to a rather large jury, representing the entirety of the Populares, in the form of a monologue. Although the defendant and the prosecutor both have a voice in the punishment, Socrates ultimately chooses death. Socrates accepts the fact that people are unwilling to accept the truth, and he felt if he did not choose death people would assume he was guilty. Furthermore, he describes Athens as being a magnificent horse, and himself as an aggravating horsefly who must be painful awaken the horse. This is not an easy job though. Throughout the monologue, Socrates acknowledges