An Analysis Of Socrates In The Apology

Improved Essays
This essay is about Socrates in the Apology. Socrates was a philosopher, a religious fanatic and a man of reason who lived to questioned why things are the way they are, due to his occupation of questioning and reasoning he was later brought to court on charges of corrupting the young and encouraging people not to believe in godly things that are recognized by the state as said by his accusers. During his trial he said quite a numerous things in the Apology and he was found guilty by the juries and was sentenced to death. So, in this essay I will be explaining why he thinks that death should not be always avoided during his trial on apology. And I will be explaining my position regarding what Socrates has said that we shouldn’t always avoid …show more content…
He is particularly worried with the outcome of a thrilling fear of death on an individual’s motivation to act virtuously. To be exact fear of death makes cowardice and injustice tempting, as a petty injustice can fend off threats to one’s person and may at times prove sufficient to save one’s life. “For to fear death, gentlemen, is nothing other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know. For no one knows whether death might not be the greatest of all goods for a human being, but people fear it as if they knew well that it is the greatest of evils. And how is this not the most blameworthy ignorance to believe one knows what one does not know? On this point and in this respect, gentlemen, I perhaps differ from most people, and if I were to claim that I am wiser than anyone in anything, it would be in this, that because I do not adequately know about things in the house of Hades, so I do not think I know (29a5-b6).In other words, Socrates suspects that he is wiser than his fellow death-fearing citizens because he is epistemically responsible. However, in his parting speech to those who voted to acquit him, it seems he reneges on his claim of ignorance by arguing that death is a benefit. First, he reflects on the silence of his spiritual guide, or demonian, in the proceedings that have led to his death sentence

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The most authentic, valid, and useable record that has been kept protected and unspoiled of Socrates’ defense of himself is the Apology. While the words penned in the Apology were not documented at the time they were spoken, Plato was present at the trial and; therefore, the record documented in the Apology was the words and confrontations of Socrates as Plato remembered them. However, one should put in mind that Plato was an admirer of Socrates and believed he is the true hero; in addition, he was still a student. Therefore, he may have been biased, in favor of Socrates, in the Apology. The Apology’s main focus is on Socrates’ responses to the different charges which are leveled against him by different accusers.…

    • 1138 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    “In what relation the Apology of Plato stands to the real defence of Socrates, there are no means of determining.” This is a quote from Plato’s Apology, it is the beginning line and it explains the whole dialogue. It sets the stage for the rest of the reading. Plato’s Apology is a dialogue where Plato basically narrates Socrates life. It is one of four dialogues that he does about Socrates.…

    • 1330 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Plato’s The Apology, a trial is depicted to convict Socrates, a man who simply wanted to seek and define the truth, for corrupting the youth of Athens, and harming the relations among citizens by causing disrespect through his practice of philosophy. The trial seeks to uncover the truth of Socrates’ actions, or rather, if his actions were a harm to the society of Athens. In regards to the city, the prosecution had some strong arguments, and many weak ones that Socrates goes on to discredit time and time again. As for the defense, many accounts of strong and weak arguments existed, that were followed by no dispute by the prosecution. That being said, despite even their weakest argument, the defense put forth the best support for their case.…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Plato's Apology Argument

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In Plato’s Apology, Socrates is put on trial for accusations of disruptive behavior. Some men in the community feel that his way of life goes against the will of the Gods and corrupts the youth. As he stands before a jury that will ultimately decide his fate, Socrates states that “the difficulty… is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding the unrighteousness” (Plato 38). Socrates knows that death is inevitable, and repeatedly claims he does not fear it. He believes that it is harder to run from the injustices and evils of the world than it is from death, so he defends his philosophy even after execution becomes the verdict.…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the “Apology” Socrates is on trial for crimes he has not committed. Socrates ultimately does not fear death because of his innocence, he believes that death is not feared because it may be one of the greatest blessings of the soul. For a person such as Socrates that has lived virtuously there no reason for them to fear death. Socrates makes the argument that one should not fear death because only the gods know what is beyond death,because death could be a blessing. According to Socrates, “I had at the risk of death, like anyone else, remained at my post where those you had elected to command had ordered me, and then, when the god ordered me, as I thought and believed, to live the life as a philosopher, to examine myself and others,…

    • 934 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Set during the socratic age of philosophy, The Apology by Plato chronicles the trial of Socrates on the charges of corruption of youth and not believing in the Gods. Plato, a young follower and apprentice of Socrates, documents the trial in its’ entirety from beginning to the unfortunate end in which Socrates is sentenced to death. The Apology is the trial of Socrates on a very basic and literal level but upon further inspection, one comes to realize that not only the philosopher is on trial but philosophy itself. Throughout the piece, Socrates attempts to convince the jury of philosophy’s worth and also criticize the condition of man. Furthermore, the recounting of the trial is also a protest of the hypocrisy within the Greek society that…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to his speech “ To fear death, gentlemen, is no other than think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know” (29a, p9). By this, he is implying that death is a mystery that is hard to understand, but is not to be feared. Socrates supports this idea by saying, “No one knows whether death is may not be the greatest of blessings for a man, yet man fear it as if they knew that it is the greatest of evils” (29a, p9). According to Socrates, people see mortality as something bad; even they have no knowledge about it. They claim so because they are scared of it.…

    • 1157 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What are the charges against Socrates as recorded in the Apology. Is he guilty of them? why or why not? In Plato’s Apology, there were several charges against Socrates during his trial.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He also accepts his fate stating that, “it is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death… it is much more difficult to avoid depravity.” All of his life Socrates taught philosophy and forward thinking, and if he had gone back and begged for a fine or for jail he would’ve thrown away everything he had taught to his students and everything his life had supposedly stood for which is to be moral just and virtuous. Socrates goes on to say that the judges should punish his sons and pain them as he had pained them if they were to exhibit signs of depravity by holding things like money before virtue.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates continues to explain how he can’t violate the verdict, which in this case is the death penalty therefore, it would be wrong because Socrates couldn’t go against his principles. Socrates states, “ Come then, if we destroy that which becomes better by the healthful and is corrupted by the distasteful, because we don’t obey the opinion of the experts, is life worth living for us when it has been corrupted? Surely this is the body, isn’t it?”(47e) Socrates is explaining how in his mind life is not worth living unless it is lived appropriately in this case being, that the ethical life is more important than life itself. Socrates continues his justification on why he can’t escape prison because by committing this action he would be doing what he considers as the unjust thing because he would’ve been seen as a dishonorable…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    If Socrates was young, he should choose Kant’s model to confront hardships without fear of self-value destruction temporary in order to prove himself right and the decision made by juries that were wrong. However, the fact that he was old, if he still chooses to challenge the system, perhaps before his death still could not be able to complete the mission. Therefore, if he takes into account of his situation, accepts the judgment was the only possible choice to fulfill what he had taught to his followers, even though he would be executed. However, this was the best ending for him to preserve his dignity of identity, as well as meaning of his…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates states in the Apology, “To fear death … is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know” (29a). Fearing death is a form of ignorance. Socrates demonstrates he is not afraid of death because he does not have all the information to base his opinion of death. In addition, Socrates does not fear death because he is excited for the fact that he may continue his search for truth by examining the souls of the dead. Death may be a blessing in disguise or a curse.…

    • 909 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Socrates is a philosopher known for his teachings in Athens. He taught his entire life, where no one would bother him. Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth and inventing new gods at the age of seventy. For varies reasons which will be discussed later, the city of Athens chose to wait till this age to prosecute and execute him. Socrates chose to accept his fate instead of escaping to avoid execution.…

    • 1322 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The ideas, proceedings and ultimate judgement had a political hand all stemming from Socrates criticism to the political class, poets, and craftsmen through his philosophical engagements. Socrates was found guilty with a narrow margin, but his proposal for penalty added insult to injury. He also rejected prison and exile, offering perhaps instead to pay a fine. The judge rejected his suggestion and sentenced him to death and with a philosophical statement, Socrates accepted the judgement saying that only the gods know what happens after death and so it would be foolish to fear what one does not know. Further, is there a true measure of guilt or innocence in Socrates’ case?…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Socrates makes a statement that if the jury kills him it will not be easy to find another like him. However once he is sentenced to death he states there will be more accusers after he is gone. Is he not contradicting himself? Was he trying to spare his life even though he claimed to not fear death? Another statement that leaves me with questions is, in the beginning of Socrates speech he says that his friend asked an oracle if there is anyone wiser than Socrates.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays