...After reading Plato’s Apology there are many questions that filled my head. Whether it was what Socrates meant when explaining his defense, or what the Athenian court members had based their moral and ethical views from. More importantly, Socrates was a philosopher, and he strived to find answers, even when they were not easy to discover. This led me to Socrates’ idea, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates was a strong advocate of this statement and supported it in front of the Oracle of Delphi and in the Athenian court. I was very interested with Socrates statement, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” When I first discovered this statement the first thought that popped in my head was how serious Socrates was. There was...
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...PL 109 Study Guide Plato’s Apology, pp. 1-5 1. When Socrates is on trial he initiates his defense by comparing his manner of speaking to that of his prosecutors. He discusses his force of eloquence because his accusers use this topic to say that you should not be mislead by this. Socrates goes on to agree with them by saying he does speak with the force of eloquence but only if that is a force of truth. He compares the eloquence mainly by agreeing with the prosecutors, but getting more specific with that of what he speaks and saying that he speaks only the truth in an elegant and persuasive manner. He also goes on to compare the words spoken and informs everyone that the accusers have only spoken false things about him, and everything that they will hear from his mouth will be nothing but the truth. Socrates mainly compares the eloquence to prove his point that these people accusing him are liars and that everyone should open their minds up a it believe him because he speaks truthfully. He asks his jury to...
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...about Socrates in Plato’s Apology, a controversial issue has been whether or not Socrates should be considered Man Thinking, a term coined by Emerson. On one hand, some argue that since Socrates was unable to convert his ideas to actions and become powerful, he cannot be described as Man Thinking. From this perspective, Socrates is not Man Thinking because he only thought, but was not dexterous with his hands, being too much like a scholar than Man Thinking. On the other hand, others argue that Socrates was Man Thinking because he stood by his ideas even upon punishment of death. According to this view, the fact that Socrates stood up for his ideas is action enough for him to be described as Man Thinking. In sum, the issue is whether...
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...Socrates, a famous Greek Philosopher, was formally charged at the Athenian courts for his philosophical teachings and its effect on the people of Athens. He was presented in front of hundreds of jury men and unsupportive audience to defend himself against charges that were set by Meletus, one of his prosecutors. Normally a person would plead with the jury to free himself from receiving harsh punishments, but Socrates was not among them. Despite of knowing the fact that the result of the trail would be death, Socrates presented a powerful speech and tactfully cross examined Meletus to prove to the audience and the jury that Meletus accused Socrates of an issue (the corruption of the youth) that Meletus himself was ignorant about. As Socrates says “But in fact Meletus, you have sufficiently displayed that you never yet gave any thought to the young. And you making your own lack of care plainly apparent, since you have cared nothing about the things for which you bring me here” (West, 25 c). First of all, Meletus accuses Socrates of corrupting the minds of the youth. When Socrates questioned to Meletus who is it that has a good influence on youth, Meletus replied the laws. Socrates then asked him to be more specific in terms of people, and Meletus said it were the jurymen. In response to Socrates persistent questions, Meletus mistakenly makes an absurd overstatement that the entire population of Athens has a positive influence on youth except for Socrates. Socrates...
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...In ‘The Apology’ written by Plato, Socrates is being accused of many things by Meletus. Socrates is being accused of corrupting the youth in general, corrupting the you intentionally and that Socrates is an atheist; in all of which he does not defend himself but rather manipulate what all the accusations against him are. In the middle of ‘The Apology’, Meletus accuses Socrates of “corrupting the youth by demonic teachings” but instead of defending himself, he starts to manipulate the accusations against him. When Meletus is accusing Socrates, Socrates says that it is impossible that he is the only one to be corrupting the youth. Socrates says “Like horses, very few are able to improve them while many can hurt or spoil them. The ability is rather limited, you will admit” – which in the end, Meletus does not care for the improvement of the youths of Athens....
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...Death Over Unrighteousness In Plato’s Apology, Plato documents what occurs during Socrates’ trial, where a philosopher named Socrates was accused for being an evil-doer by simply questioning his surroundings. He defends himself in order to prove that he is innocent. But Socrates’ accusers will not accept any reason other than the one that they provided. Rather than saying that he is wrong, Socrates continues to argue for his righteousness, but then accepts that his accusers will always remain unrighteous. Socrates believes that it is better to die than to live an unrighteousness life. Rather than spending the rest of his life in a prison, Socrates does not see an issue with death, as for all he knows, it can be as equally good...
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...Thesis: He argues that he does not know the answers to the questions he is asked I. Introduction to the argument Socrates makes to the people of Athens during his trial A. Accusations 1. Does not believe in gods 2. Corrupting the youth of Athens II. Socrates – the man A. Who was he? B. Background of his life Plato's “The Apology” is an interpretation of the speech Socrates gives at the trial in which he is charged with not believing in the gods that the city of Athens believes in and corrupting the Athenians youth. He argues that he does not know the answers to the questions he is asked and that he is innocent of both of these charges. His defense is eventually ineffective, and he is condemned to death. Socrates concludes the Apology by arguing that man should not have a fear of death. Socrates was born in circa 470 BC to a mason and midwife. He served in the armored infantry, participated in three military campaigns. After his served in the military is when he decided he needed to pursue philosophy. For the most part, Socrates was a simple man, even somewhat ignorant. He speaks in a very plain, relaxed manner. He explains that he has no experience with the courts and that he will instead speak in the manner to which he is comfortable: with honesty and directness. He explains that his behavior began when he set out on a quest to find someone wiser than himself. Recognizing his own inability to know anything about worldly affairs, Socrates concludes that he...
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...Human Beings, religious or not, posses the innate desire to ask questions and seek answers, specifically with regards to what they can perceive, as said to Socrates in Plato’s “Apology”, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. People constantly seek justifications for their experiences, and this can take many forms, however, in order to receive full rationalization one must turn to faith. Unless a society advocate religious freedom, one can not fulfill their visceral yearning for purpose and understanding of the world that encompasses them. When answering secular questions, one must use a priori ways of thought. However, when the questions examine the aspects of natural laws, one must turn to a posteriori thought, a method of logic deriving...
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...self-examination, which is argued to be the true starting point of philosophy, thereby dooming their investigations to failure (xxiii). Socrates avoided these criticisms by beginning his search for what can be known, “since only that can provide a firm basis for the increase of knowledge” (xxiv). In what follows, I will first argue that Socrates’ philosophy of education is one that should be maintained by all educators. Specifically, I will outline how his admittance of ignorance, his pursuit for self-knowledge, and his use of strategic questioning would benefit any educational framework aimed at promoting 21st century learning. Finally, I will address how living the examined life is beneficial to both the individual as well as the society. In Plato’s Apology we are presented with a notable speech offered by Socrates in defense against accusations of failing to recognize the gods and corrupting the youth (28). It is within this speech that Socrates displays his method for self-examination, that is, a vital instrument in the pursuit of the best possible condition of the soul (34). Socrates defended his passion for the philosophical life. He argued that his role as a philosopher is to question people with regard to their knowledge, and further, to do so in such a way so as to allow them to recognize and accept their own ignorance. By using this approach, Socrates supported both himself and the public in an attempt to transcend ignorance. Hence, when confronted with the option to give up his...
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...In Plato’s Apology, Socrates, an Athenian philosopher, is accused of not believing in the gods by corrupting the youth with his philosophical beliefs. Socrates uses the forces of logos and ethos to build the trust of his audience over his accusers, Meletus and Anytus, who have created prejudices against him in trial. Socrates uses a grand mixture of socratic irony and rhetorical devices to make his claim and prove his point in efforts to hopefully help find his innocence. However, in doing so, he reveals to the audience what kind of a person he is: a haughty, gadfly kind of man with an undesirable temperament. Although Socrates is indeed arrogant and comes off as egotistical, he is in fact quite admirable. “Let the judge decide justly and...
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...Characters from Platos’ Apology and Allegory of the Cave and Voltaire’s Story of a Good Brahmin will be compared and contrasted in this composition. In addition, a view into the attitudes of these characters reveals our pursuit and frustration while seeking truth. Ultimately, these stories provide an introspect to who we are individually and challenges within our society. The levels of interest, complexity, and diversity these stories afford are similar to good advise from a close friend. In short, much was learned from the musings of this composition, and I hope others encounter a similar revelations. Keywords: Plato, Socrates, Voltaire, philosophy, compare, contrast A good allegory is a precious gift. Voltaire and Plato present stories...
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...Plato’s Apology, is by far one of the most logical yet critical thinking text that I have ever read. Plato describes Socrates, the accused atheist and corrupter of youth in ancient Athens, as a true beacon of ethics and morality. The method that Plato uses to depict Socrates on trial gives us a look back on how the trial of a man who encourages one of sound mind to ask questions even to those who are deemed wise in the eyes of others. Despite facing odds that are stacked highly against him, and this being his first time in court “For I am more than seventy years of age, and this is the first time that I have ever appeared in a court of law, and I am quite a stranger to the ways of the place; and therefore I would have you regard me as if I were really a stranger”(Plato). Socrates is able to achieve what he feels is the most imperative knowledge of morality for all present in the court to understand. When we, the readers, are first presented to Socrates we find him near the end of his trial where he is allowed to speak to the court. The sure genius of Socrates is revealed to us in his first words of dialogue. Using his brilliance of moral logic and ethical thinking he warns those present in the court of the mendacity of the accusations, “How you have felt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that their persuasive words almost made me forget who I was - such was the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth.”(Plato)...
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...Gorgias was to many the father of Sophism; he originated from Leontini in Sicily but is best known for the speeches he gave in Greece. Gorgias made the journey to Athens as an ambassador for the people of Leontini who were in danger of attack from the much more sizable army of Syracuse. This of course would be devastating blow for his people which gave Gorgias urgency on his mission to retrieve aid from the Greeks. Once the Athenians heard this extraordinarily talented orator weave and rhyme his words to paint a picture in a way they had never witnessed before they were shocked and awed by this new form of speech craft. Gorgias was successful on his mission to convince the Athenians to create an alliance; a mission he was more than suited for. He has been quoted saying,” I can convince anyone of anything!” this claim has become the goal of many who share his craft: the craft of Rhetoric. Rhetoric sculpted Gorgias’ view on life (the view that would birth the sophist) that through deliberation and deconstruction of both sides of an argument one could extract the truth and once found that truth may not be absolute; that truth should be driven by logic and not morals. This ideology of fluctuating truth was not well received by the Greek Philosophers who believed in an absolute truth. The most famous of these Greeks being Plato who constructed the play focusing on Gorgias and utilizing his name as a title. Plato believed that rhetoric caused chaos and injustice if not driven by a quest...
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...Heath Thomas Kinkead English 1301-394 12 September 2017 Plato tells a story about a “wise” man being accused of corrupting the youth in Athens. In “The Apology,” Socrates defends himself in front of the jury while he attempts to embarrass Meletus and lessen his credibility as the prosecutor. Socrates then talks about how Athens would lose more than they would gain by exiling him, and he finishes by saying that he does not fear death for only the gods know what happens after death. Socrates uses apologia, a method of defense, to embarrass Meletus. He wants to prove to the jury that Meletus really has no affiliation with the youth of Athens, so there is no way for him to know if the youth are corrupted or not. It appears that Meletus just...
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...The first argumentative strategy dialogic can be defined by a conversation between people. Most of the time when someone uses the dialogic strategy, it consists of two characters. In stories, dialogic often have two characters that have a dialogue conversation. Usually, one of characters says more things than the other with two different points of views. In “Apology of Socrates”, Socrates tries to plead for his innocence and talks to Meletus. The majority of the time, Socrates tried to persuade his audience into believing what he was doing was right. There was a few times where Meletus spoke to answer a few of Socrates’ questions. Confessional is the second argumentative strategy in which someone opens up to their intentions. Confessional can be used when someone reveals their motivation for doing something. It can also be used to talk about a purpose for an action someone took. David Henry Thoreau wrote “Why I Went to the woods” to explain why he did not want to live the city. He tries to convince his readers that living life means to not live in city but to live in the wilderness. He explains his reasons why he believed that living in city was not living. Didactic can be defined as a lecture. The argumentative strategy is meant to teach an audience new lessons and new things. When teachers and professors teach their classes, they lecture and use a didactic approach to teach their students. In “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell attempts to teach his readers...
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