Plato's Apology of Socrates

Question 1

PAoS: Why was Socrates condemned to death by the Ancient Greeks?

Answer 1

• Claims of corrupting the youth, particularly those of the wealthy Athenians (Did he make them pay or not)
• Plays such as The Clouds by Aristophanes painted him as a fool, who was making a fool of his subjects.
• Charged with not recognising the gods recognised by the state.

Question 2

PAoS: In what form does Socrates make his argument?

Answer 2

-As a Sophist and a Rhetoritician, he uses these, much to the dismay of his opponents.

Question 3

PAoS: How does Socrates anger the council?

Answer 3

• He pokes fun at them

- Miletus from Pitthus cannot grow a beard.

Question 4

PAoS: Why shouldn’t Socrates have been put to death by the state?

Answer 4

• Arguably not, as Athens prided itself on its democratic values, and to put someone to death for speaking freely and simply seeking truth seems drenched in irony and lack of moral consistency.
• He arguably did not charge money for the teaching of his students. Up in the air.
• Socrates follows the gods/cities laws, even as they put him to death. Even when submitted to death he follows them

Question 5

PAoS: Why might an Athenian want Socrates put to death?

Answer 5

• Socrates frequently undermines the gods. “Zeus? Who’s Zeus?” in The Clouds.
• Whilst exxagerated for comic value, likely means Socrates did question the gods, who were core to Athens’ identity.

Question 6

PAoS: In what manner does Socrates speak?

Answer 6

• In a very plain, conversational manner.

- With great rhetoric.

Question 7

PAoS: What does Socrates argue in his defense?

Answer 7

• His behaviour stems from the oracle at Delphi that declared him the wisest of all men.
• As a result of this he believes it to be his responsibility to question other men whom he deems ignorant.
• Simply searching for truth and meaning, and will accomplish that goal through debate, as controversial as it may be.
• Socrates had thought as a hoplite on the frontlines.

Question 8

PAoS: What does ‘Apology’ mean in Ancient Greece?

Answer 8

Defence, from the word Apologia.

Question 9

PAoS: When was Socrates’ defence made?

Answer 9

399BCE

Question 10

PAoS: What was the verdict?

Answer 10

Socrates could either live in exile or be put to death by hemlock.
He ultimately chooses to follows the cities rules and embraces his death.

Question 11

PAoS: What is Socrates’ final statement?

Answer 11

That in putting their critics to death, they are harming themselves more than they harm him.

Question 12

PAoS: What is the objective of The Apology?

Answer 12

The text seems primarily concerned with painting the ideal philosopher, more than it does pushing certain philosophical doctrines.

Question 13

PAoS: What was Plato’s relationship with Socrates?

Answer 13

• Plato was one of Socrates’ greatest admirers, our knowledge of Socrates stems mostly from his dialogues.
• Student of Socrates

Question 14

PAoS: What does the Delphic oracle deem Socrates?

Answer 14

• The wisest of men as he knows that he knows nothing.
• This is steeped in Socratic Irony.
• Socrates accepts that he is better off the less he thinks he knows.

Question 15

PAoS: What is elenchus?

Answer 15

• The Socratic method of eliciting truth by question and answer.
• As seen in The Euthyphro Dialogue, prior to the Apology.

Question 16

PAoS: What does Socrates deem interlinked?

Answer 16

• Wisdom and virtue, he believes them to be closely connected.
• This means his efforts seek to improve society as a whole.

Question 17

PAoS: What influence did literature on Socrates have on philosophy?

Answer 17

• The life and teachings of Socrates stand at the foundation of Western philosophy.
• Our only recordings of him come from his contemporaries.