Apology by Plato
Apology by Plato
Apology by Plato
In a first glance of Plato’s speech which is the Apology, you might assume that in the
title, it justifies that, Socrates is feel sorry for his action. This is not the case at all. In this
context, the word apology has the meaning of an explanation or defense, not an apology where
you confess your guilt and say you’re sorry.
In Plato’s Apology, the reader finds much interesting information about the philosophic
thought that is derived from Socrates’ defense speech. Socrates, Plato’s teachers and friend, is
ready to defend himself. Socrates’ mission is to help people to better understand the meaning of
life in order to change their lives, placing emphasis on virtue and souls.
There are two sets of charges that were brought against Socrates: the first one is
disrespect to the city’s gods and the second one is corruption of young people. These charges
include formal charges brought by Anytus, Meletus and Lycon and some earlier charges brought
by anonymous people.
Imagine a person that really cares about the good of the city, wondering seriously
whether it is a good or a bad thing for young people to be listeners of Socrates
Is it possible that such a person has voted to declare Socrates guilty of impiety and
corruption of youth?
Socrates responds to these charges are convincing. He denies the fact that his philosophy
and philosophic activities cause harm to the society he lives in and the city in general. He denies
that his philosophy can corrupt the youth, claiming that his philosophic thought is of great value
for humanity. He claims that he did not consciously corrupt the youth of Athens, and he gives
many reasons why he is not at fault for their actions.
In Socrates defense to the jury, he claims that by looking at the facts, the jury will see that
Meletus is accusing him of something that is not his fault. Socrates states that he is not
responsible for the corruption of the youth, because he was not aware that he was leading them
astray. Meletus and Socrates do not have the same definition of corruption. Meletus claims that
what Socrates is doing is wrong. Meletus views the corruption of the youth as Socrates telling
the children to believe in certain gods contrary to what gods the public believes in. Socrates says
that he is not corrupting the youth, because that would mean he was harming them and he knows
that he is not.
In terms of being an impiety, what Socrates says positively about the divinity is just as
damning as it does not say. The core of his argument is that his philosophical activity was
undertaken by the gods, which is not allowed to disobey (23c, 28d-30a, 33c, 37th). Thus he
interprets the oracle. Gods requires him to Athens goes through asking questions and showing
people they do not know what they think they know.
Socrates is a gadfly sent by the gods to prick the Athenians, and exciting to be concerned
above all virtue (29d-31b, 36c, 41st). And the best way to show your concern for virtue is to
spend every day of your life to the philosophical discussion about the virtue. “A life that does not
examine is not worth living for a human being” (38). God requires that everyone, every day, and
working to ask: to review and reconsider the values that directed his life. Socrates’ defense
against the charge that he doesn’t believe in Gods is honest and sufficient. He admits that he does
not believe in the Gods of the city, but he is guided by some sort of higher being, or spirits. He
states, “I live in great poverty because of my service to God” (23c).
In Apology, Plato tells the story of Socrates’ trial, describing his behavior and his unique
defense during the trial process. Socrates is innocent because his philosophic thought is useful
for Athenians. He has been wrongly accused.