The Socrates Trial In The Apology By Plato
The Apology by Plato is a first hand account of the events at the Socrates trial. Socrates defended himself to the accusations of falsely teaching Athens youth and having faith in deities that were not accepted by the nation. In Socrates and Plato’s lifetime, the term “apology” contradicts the contemporary use of the term which means a “defense.” Socrates is attempting to justify his behavior and defend himself against the accusations.
In the beginning of his informal speech, he clarifies that he has had no contact with the court of law and that he will talk in an honest and normal manner. A prediction that claimed that Socrates was the wisest of men, by the oracle at Delphi was one of the ways Socrates justified his actions. Acknowledging his ignorance in most human affairs, he gathered that he is essentially wiser than his fellow men in and that he knows that he knows nothing. For the purpose of broadening this unfamiliar philosophy, Socrates deemed it his responsibility to examine the presumed leaders and to uncover their flawed knowledge as ignorance. These pursuits gave him great praise amongst the adolescents of Athens, but great animosity and annoyance coming from the individuals he embarrassed. “Socrates is an evil-doer… who searches into things under the earth and in heaven, and he makes the worse appear the better cause… he teaches the aforesaid doctrines to others”. He notes this as the grounds for being prosecuted. Socrates then starts to cross-examine Meletus, the person accountable for bringing Socrates in front of the jury. His chat with Meletus is a bad illustration of this technique, because it was aimed more toward humiliating Meletus than attaining the truthfulness. Then he goes onto comparing himself to a gadfly and the Athenian state as a lazy horse: “and the state is a great and noble steed… I am that gadfly which God has attached to the state, and all day long and in all places always fastening upon you.” Socrates states that the government is inclined to drift into sleep, but through his impact, it can be recognized as a virtuous deed.
In the final verdict, Socrates was found guilty and was asked to present a retribution. Jokingly, he proposes that he should be given a great meal for doing such a kindness to Athens. On a more serious note, he declines imprisonment and extradition, counter offering to pay a fine. When the state dismisses his proposal and sentences him to die, Socrates accepts the verdict with the realization that nobody but the deities know what occurs following death and it is pointless to fearing the unknown. He also advised the jurymen that censoring their criticism is more harm than listening to them. Socrates believes so vigorously in maintaining his ethics that he is prepared to sacrifice his own life. He is more concerned for in seeking knowledge than seeking out success and wealth. And he cares more for the souls of himself and others, and when seen in that light, the failure of justice was on the part of those who did not accept him, not himself.
