Socrates' Apology

Question 1

What was Apology by Plato?

Answer 1

The speech that Socrates gave in his defense in 399 BCE when he was charged, tried and condemned to death

Question 2

What was Socrates compared to?

Answer 2

A gadfly since he incessantly bugged people

Question 3

what were the 3 main ideas

Answer 3

1. He demanded that people reflect on their own beliefs and values
2. He demanded that people have the courage to be critical
3. an unexamined life is not a life worth living

Question 4

Sophists vs. Socrates/Philosophers

Answer 4

Sophists would teach students to use tricky language to manipulate others for a price while Socrates would to into the city and talk to anyone that would listen

Question 5

what were the rumors about socrates?

Answer 5

1. He was the wisest person in the city
2. He corrupted the youth

Question 6

How did the city think he corrupted the youth?

Answer 6

he would point out people’s flaws as favors to help challenge them, in addition he said that he was not a teacher but rather simply having a conversation. he always claimed that he did not know everything

Question 7

Why was he seen as a scapegoat by the government?

Answer 7

There was a war going on and the youth started to question the government and Socrates was a person that they were talking to and taking after

Question 8

What was one thing he was “corrupting” the you with?

Answer 8

By not believing in gods but rather spiritual beings yet the city believes that spiritual beings are with gods or children of gods

Question 9

How did he refute he charges?

Answer 9

1. if he corrupted people it would have hurt the city which would have hurt him
2. if he did it unwillingly then there is no need to bring him to court but rather to teach hi m what he did was wrong
3. no one errs voluntarily- people don’t know any better sometimes

Question 10

What did he mean by a rise of a new kind of hero?

Answer 10

this hero was not wealthy, good looking, powerful, or well connected man but rather an intellectual hero. A man of conviction that has the courage to question life.

Question 11

What is Socrates’ final counter attack?

Answer 11

1. he never benefited from his work since he lived in poverty and if he was in it for the money he would not ahve been living like this.
2. If athenians kill him then they will be harming themselves- they would be killing an innocent man. In the end after his death he was even more influential and see as more of a hero