One day in the year 399 bc, socrates has been accused for impiety and corruption of youth. Of the many lies they told, one in particular surprised me, namely that you should be careful not to be deceived. The book itself is exceptional in that it provides all the works of plato and some earlier discussions and letters from socrates plato s mentor. The apology platos the apology is an account of the speech socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of athens. Highlight, take notes, and search in the book word wise.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. My accusers say i am skilled in speaking which i denybut that is irrelevant, in any case. An account of socrates speech at his trial is recorded in apology. The apology book notes is a free study guide on the apology by plato. But many as their falsehoods were, there was one of them which quite amazed mei mean when they told you to be upon your guard. Plato s apology was written shortly after the death of his mentor. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Plato s support of aristocracy and distrust of democracy is also taken to be partly rooted in a democracy having killed socrates.
Despite its title, however, the speech is not an apology. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes the apology study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. Socrates is brought to trial before the citizens of athens, accused of not recognizing the gods that are recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of athens. Burke september 7, 2012 response paper the apology by plato in this reading plato tells the story of socrates and his trial which ultimately lead to his death sentence. The apology of socrates is platos version of the speech given by socrates as he defends himself against the charges download apology plato pdf genial ebooks download the ebook apology plato in pdf or epub format and read it directly on your mobile phone, computer or any device. Apology cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. As a result, the bibliography related to the apology, and to the trial of socrates, is vast. Socrates 17a how you have felt, o men of athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, i cannot tell. Critical analysis of the apology of socrates by plato socrates was an orator and philosopher whose primary interests were logic, ethics and epistemology.
The lecture begins with an explanation of why platos apology is the best introductory text to the study of political philosophy. Son of a wealthy athens family and served in the athens army during the peloponnesian war. Aug 01, 2011 socrates defense against corrupting the young in plato s apology philosophy core concepts duration. Within the chapters, are background notes and reading notes that are very helpful and the translation is perfect. Although in none of platos dialogues is plato himself a conversational partner or even a witness to a conversation, in the apology socrates says that plato is one of several friends in the audience. Quite a few comments have been posted about apology.
In what relation the apology of plato stands to the real defence of socrates, there are no means of determining. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the apology and what it means. In platos apology of socrates, plato recounts the speech that socrates gave shortly before his death, during the trial in 399 bc in which he was charged with corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom. Almost all we know about socrates is from platos writings. Each of them made significant contributions to philosophy, and it would be difficult to determine to which one of them we are most indebted. In platos apology of socrates, plato recounts the speech that socrates gave shortly before his death, during the trial in 399 bc in which he was charged with corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, also being a busybody and intervene gods business. These notes provide a sectionbysection commentary on the apology that supplies the background needed to read the work in its historical and philosophical context. Platos apologya transliteration of the ancient greek word apologia, meaning defenseis supposedly a historical record of the speech. Fowler translation, loeb 19 edited with introduction and notes by e. In this way plato lets us know that he was an eyewitness of the trial and therefore in the best possible position to write about it.
Socrates addressed some words to the court for his defense. The apology of socrates is plato s version of the speech given by socrates as he unsuccessfully defended himself in 399bce against the charges of corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel 24b. And yet, hardly anything of what they said is true. In the protagoras, socrates is a guest at the home of callias, son of hipponicus, a man whom socrates disparages in the apology as having wasted a. Summary the apology is believed to be the most authentic account that has. The apology of plato may be compared generally with those speeches of thucydides in which he has embodied his conception of the lofty character and policy of the great pericles, and which at the same time furnish a commentary on the situation of affairs from the point of view of the historian. Apologia socratis, written by plato, is a socratic dialogue of the speech of legal selfdefence which socrates spoke at his trial for impiety and corruption in 399 bc specifically, the apology of socrates is a defence against the charges of corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods.
In the protagoras, socrates is a guest at the home of callias, son of hipponicus, a man whom socrates disparages in the apology as having wasted a great amount of money on sophists fees. Full view hathitrust digital library hathitrust digital library. Socrates defense against corrupting the young in platos apology philosophy core concepts duration. Platos the apology is an account of the speech socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of athens. Plato s euthyphro, apology, crito, phaedo about the author. Other scholars argue that, if not in actual speech, in other important ways, the dialogue is an accurate representation of the historical event. Platos apology the greek word for apology apologia can also be translated defense as well and is more apt in this case, so do not think that socrates will be showing sorrow anywhere in. The free the apology notes include comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. It appears to record, in many instances, the exact words used by. Plato was a student of socrates, and went on to teach many famous people such as aristotle, who wrote treatises on everything from poetry to biology, and alexander the great. Plato apology summary platos apology of socrates 12min blog. Since the name of platos text is apology, you might assume that somewhere in the account of his speech, socrates is sorry for his actions.
The focus remains on the apology as a symbol for the violation of free expression, with socrates justifying his way of life as a philosopher and defending. Platos apology of socrates classics oxford bibliographies. It is in essential harmony with the references to the trial that occur in plato s other dialogs and also with the account given in xenophons memorabilia. Plato apology summary we know they say plato s apology of socrates by the way, in case youre interested, theres another book by the same name written by xenophon is a socratic dialogue, but this one should be much more appropriately described as a socratic monologue. The apology by plato i do not know, men of athens, how my accusers affected you. After socratess execution for corrupting the young and neglecting. About euthyphro, apology, crito, and phaedo the influence of these men on the culture of the western world can scarcely be overestimated.
The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. Platos apology purports to be essentially a transcript of socratess defense speech. Because the athenians did not have an authoritative book comparable to the. Plato, wrote the work that we call apology, where socrates once again address some words to the court for his defense. Plato was also an advisor to the king of syracuse, but this ended in drastic failure and he was eventually exiled from sicily. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read apology. Plato s the apology is an account of the speech socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of athens. Plato s apology of socrates how you, men of athens, have been affected by my accusers, i do 17a not know 1. Platos apology of socrates how you, men of athens, have been affected by my accusers, i do 17a not know 1. Free the apology notes, plot and chapter summaries, themes, and more. Nov 23, 2018 plato apology summary we know they say platos apology of socrates by the way, in case youre interested, theres another book by the same name written by xenophon is a socratic dialogue, but this one should be much more appropriately described as a socratic monologue. It certainly agrees in tone and character with the description of xenophon, who says in the memorabilia that socrates might have been acquitted if in any moderate degree he would have conciliated the favour of the dicasts. Apology summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes.
A beginners guide to the philosophy of plato michael s. The apology of socrates is platos version of the speech given by socrat. His father, ariston, could trace his lineage back to the old kings of athens. Platos support of aristocracy and distrust of democracy is also taken to be partly rooted in a democracy having killed socrates. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of apology by plato. Some scholars argue that it is plato s idealized version of socrates, and as such, is a fiction. The apology is believed to be the most authentic account that has been preserved of socrates defense of himself as it was presented before the athenian council. Grunthaler the following lecture notes on platos apology have been prepared specifically for the philosophical novice in mind. Socrates was an orator and philosopher whose primary interests were logic, ethics and epistemology. Apology by plato, part of the internet classics archive. For my part, even i nearly forgot myself because of them, so persuasively did they speak. The apology is plato s version of the speech given by socrates as he defended himself in 399 bc against the charges of corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel. How can i summarize the purpose of plato s apology, and how it might connect to my life in a.
Socrates defense how you have felt, o men of athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, i cannot tell. It is platos account of the trial of socrates, which was held in 399 bc. Apologia socratis, written by plato, is a socratic dialogue of the speech of legal selfdefence which socrates spoke at his trial for impiety and corruption in 399 bc. It is in essential harmony with the references to the trial that occur in platos other dialogs and also with the account given in xenophons memorabilia.
A native of athens, greece, plato lived from approximately 428 b. Platos apology the greek word for apology apologia can also be translated defense as well and is more apt in this case, so do not think that socrates will be showing sorrow anywhere in the apology. Platos decision to recall the trial of socrates in so many works, probably written many years apart, attests strongly to the centrality of the apology for his understanding of philosophy. These free notes consist of about 32 pages 9,362 words and contain the following sections. The apology is platos version of the speech given by socrates as he defended himself in 399 bc against the charges of corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel. Garvin 20 introduction it would not be possible to overestimate the importance of socrates in the development of the. Socrates was placed on trial for allegedly corrupting the youth and not. Socrates was a 70 year old man at peace with his own mortality yet. The apology by plato summary platos the apology is the speech socrates makes at a trial in which he is accused with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of athens. Oct 03, 2014 summary and analysis of platos the apology. His apology of socrates is a telling of the events at the 399 b. The book itself is exceptional in that it provides all the works of plato and some earlier discussions and letters from socrates platos mentor. Plato was born in athens in 427 bc to a well established aristocratic family. Socrates speech, however, is by no means an apology in our modern understanding of the word.
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