Plato's Apology Research Paper

Plato’s “Apology”, was written and dedicated to a natural philosopher and Plato’s beloved teacher, Socrates, whom was executed in 399 BCE, after being accused of impiety and for teaching and corrupting the mind of the youths in the city of Athens. Prior to when the trial occurred, Greece was to encounter a tragic civil war, which included both Athens and Sparta, the two most powerful city- states in the ancient Greek world. It was a time in which all cities believed they were superior to any and every one. So in result, these cities would fight one another in order to gain power, and whoever threatened that said power, in this case was Socrates, would unfortunately be subject for treason and convicted and later executed. The fight between Athens …show more content…
Socrates grew up during the “Golden Age” of Greece, an age which began with the defeat of a vast Persian army from the result of badly outnumbered Greeks, and ended with a lengthy and unfortunate war between the Athens and the Spartans (Shelley). This was the age where he served as a soldier, before he became well known as the questioner of everything and everyone. The “Golden Age”, lasted for more than a century and it was able to create the foundation of Western civilizations. It was in this era, that Athens and Sparta became the most powerful city- states in Greece. However, they were never quite satisfied with this. Although both cities fought as allies during the Persian War between 499 and 449 BC, they never thought themselves to be of equal power to one another (History). The Athens wanted to become stronger, while Sparta wanted to weaken the Athens. In 431 BC, the Peloponnesian War broke out. The was last for almost three decades (431- 404 …show more content…
Socrates tries to make the Athenians understand that he is not an evil- doer that he is just here to spread his wisdom to others, in devotion to God, without the expense of others. In the text, Socrates states, “that only God is wise… that the wisdom of men is worth little or nothing; he is not speaking of Socrates, he is only using my name by way of illustration. (563)” Compared to God himself, there is no man in the world that is as wise. Socrates is the only man that comes close to that knowledge. So close, but yet so far. In his devotion to God, he goes around the world in search of those of who are wise and willing to listen and open up their mind to new ideas and possibilities, asking that he get nothing in return. “I am in utter poverty, by reason of my devotion to God. (563)” He shows to the Athenians that, unlike other philosophers, who would teach false things to individuals in order to receive money and other material things, he doesn’t care about any of that. He lives in poverty, both physically and mentally, in that he always feels like there is always something to learn, whether on Earth and even after