The Apology of Socrates Flashcards
According to Socrates, what distinguishes true judges from the other people at his trial who are listening to him and to his accusers?
Judges can concentrate their attention on whether what socrates says is just or not
true judges judge based on knowledge, not hearsay
judges have knowledge on the subject matter
he believed the true judges would be able to see past the false accusations made against him and would be able to make a fair judgement based on the evidence presented
how, on his telling, did socrates come to be accused of the first set of charges?
Socrates believes that what caused his reputation was human wisdom
How does Socrates go about seeking to interpret or make sense of the oracles response to Chairephon, and in what sense, on Socrates’ telling, is that response true.
To interpret what the oracle said Socrates went to someone who appears wise, a politician, and conversed with him. Here he found that the politician appeared wise to many people and especially to himself, but he was not.
this made socrates realize that he was wiser than the man because he doesn’t think he knows what he does not know
After that Socrates investigate poets, they wrote great works of genius but were incapable of explaining them. Socrates said that their genius comes from instinct or inspiration and not connected to their intellect.
Then socrates investigates Craftsmen. These men truly did have great wisdom in their craft but thought their expertise in one field allowed them to speak authoritatively in many other fields that they knew nothing about
just cause you know one thing doesn’t mean that you know all
What are the two charges that Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon made against Socrates?
Accused Socrates of corrupting the youth and not believing in the Gods of the city
How does socrates try to turn the tables on Meletus in regard to the first new charge against him?
Does this attempt prove that Socrates is innocent of that charge?
corrupting the youth-
Socrates got Meletus to admit that he believes that Socrates is the only man in Athens who is corrupting the youth and that everyone else is improving them
So then Socrates asks why Meletus didn’t try to just make Socrates better, why didn’t meletus try to converse with socrates and fix things. Socrates asks why meletus just took him straight to court instead of helping.
I think this attempt helps prove that Socrates is innocent of this charge because he weakens Meletus’ argument in doing this
How does Socrates respond to the second charge meletus made against him?
does that response establish that socrates is innocent of that charge?
Socrates claims that he has a spirit guiding him, so how could he be an atheist
“how does any man believe in spiritual activites who does not believe in spirits?”
then since he does believe in spirits, and meletus belives that spirits are a form of gods, this proves that socrates is innocent from his charge.
How does socrates respond to someone who would say that he should be ashamed of the way he has lived his life?
Otherwise stated, what is the accusation he would make against such a person?
Socrates says that it doesn’t matter how long you live. What matters is the quality of your life and what is righteous and good. It is better to live honorably and ethically and die young, then live a life that is unethical.
What harm does socrates say athens risks doing to itself, and how does he purport to defend that city from such harm?
If they kill socrates they will not easily find another like him, he was attached to the city by god
Why does socrates refrain, so far as he is free to do so, from engaging in “public affairs”
he has a voice and whenever it speaks it turns him away from something that he is about to do, but never encourages him to do anything
if he had tried to take part in politics he would have died a long time ago
why, according to socrates, do some people spend time in his company?
they enjoy hearing those being questioned who think they are wise, but are not
what possible tactic doe defending himself does Socrates refuse to employ, and why?
he could of tried to make the court feel bad for him by brining in his family. He doesn’t bring them because he believes he is superior to the majority of men and if he were seen to be behaving like this it would be a disgrace.
How does socrates respond to the court’s ruling on the charges against him and what possible penalties does he recommend that the court levy against him? What do you make of this response to the city’s finding him guilty?
socrates is not mad at the ruling and is surprised by the number of votes cast on each side.
his possible penalty that he proposes is that he should get free meals in the prytaneum; he is convinced that he did no wrong and does not want to live a life of imprisonment
shows that he stands by everything that he has done and is not afraid of death; can’t be fearful of something he doesn’t know about
