The Apology
Plato (428-347)
Written ca. 399-389 BCE Greece
“The Apology” (which means, simply, “defense”) is Plato’s account of the three speeches that Socrates gave at his trial in 399 B.C.E. At the age of 71, Socrates was charged by the prosecutors Anytus and Miletus with corruption of the youth of Athens, sophistry (fraudulent teaching practices), and heresy. We do not know exactly what the prosecution said in its presentation, because that has not been recorded for us, but it can be assumed that mention was made of some of Socrates’ students, like the politician Critias (one of the Thirty Tyrants) and the general Alcibiades, both of whom supported Athens’ rival Sparta and were regarded as traitors. It had therefore been rumored for some time that Socrates’ teachings were dangerous because they led men to rebel against the state. In his defense, Socrates argued that he only questioned authority in an effort to keep the state healthy and that he himself had nearly been the victim of Critias for refusing to do the bidding of the Thirty Tyrants.
“The Apology” consists of the following three speeches:
the defense proper: socrates answered the charges levelled against him.
the sentencing plea: having been found guilty, socrates was expected to request exile, but he refused to do so.
socrates’s farewell to Athens: After being sentenced to death, socrates spoke to both his detractors and his supporters.
Plato, Socrates’ faithful student, was an attendant at both his trial and his subsequent execution, and he gifted to us “The Apology” which stands over two millennia later as a monument to freedom and justice and truth.
Questions to consider while reading this selection:
What is Socrates attitude toward the trial and his prosecutors? What about the judges?
You will notice as you read that Socrates has to ask the 500 judges to settle down periodically. What is that the audience is feeling? Are they cheering or booing him? How can you tell? Does he agitate them on purpose?
Some have said that Socrates behaves arrogantly. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Looking at “The Apology” as Socrates’ last chance to teach the Athenians something, what do you think he tried to teach them?
Written by Rhonda L. Kelley
The Apology of Socrates
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Socrates, translated by Henry Cary
Edited, annotated, and compiled by Rhonda L. Kelley
The Defense77
“I am Not Eloquent”
I know not, O Athenians!78 how far you have been influenced by my accusers79 for my part, in listening to them I almost forgot myself, so plausible were their arguments however, so to speak, they have said nothing true. But of the many falsehoods which they uttered I wondered at one of them especially, that in which they said that you ought to be on your guard lest you should be deceived by me, as being eloquent in speech. For that they are not ashamed of being forthwith convicted by me in fact, when I shall show that I am not by any means eloquent, this seemed to me the most shameless thing