The Apology of Socrates is Plato’s version of the speech given by Socrates as he defends himself 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). “Apology” here has its earlier meaning (now usually expressed by the word “apologia”) of speaking in defense of a cause or of one’s beliefs or actions (from the Greek απολογία).
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Once again I see many parallels to modern day politics. Socrates is essentially saying, look, I don’t have the intricate and beautiful language of a lawyer/rhetorician. I’m just a simple man. But I know what is right and what is wrong. Isn’t this the strategy that Republicans have used with a great deal of success?
Comment by pha — July 4, 2010 @ 3:22 pm |
Anytus. That name, to me, sounds like a Greek everyman. It would be a good name for a generic character, Anytus.
Comment by pha — July 4, 2010 @ 3:26 pm |
This is where Socrates humbleness breaks down. So far, I’ve been with him. He doesn’t have any special knowledge. He doesn’t claim to know all the answers, he just wants to ask questions and gain wisdom through the process. That’s all fine and good, but then, he says that the oracle at Delphi proclaimed him the wisest man in the world. This is obviously not humble at all. It’s apparent that Socrates or the people around him had some role in the proclamation by the oracle. I don’t believe that there was or has ever been any such thing as an oracle that knows all kinds of things and can predict the future in some magical way. So the irony here is that Socrates actually believes he is the wisest man in the world because he claims to know nothing, and knowing nothing is actually all a person can know. But the fact that he knows that knowing nothing is wise is knowing something more than the average person and therefore he is not really humble and ignorant, but just putting on a show.
Comment by pha — July 4, 2010 @ 3:37 pm |
I think Socrates is at his worst when he is arguing that he must believe in Gods. I’d like to hear more about Anaxagoras and his views on God. Socrates seems like he is stretching here to claim that he, in fact, believes in the Gods without really explaining what that means or why it is necessary.
Comment by pha — July 4, 2010 @ 3:52 pm |
Imagine if we had a Socrates type now for our present elected officials? Maybe this could be the role of a third party in American politics. Maybe there is a benefit in having someone around to ask difficult questions even if they have no chance of actually being in power themselves. It would need to be a political force though, since it looks like the traditional media cannot do this job. That way, the ignorance of our leaders could be laid out for everyone to see and would make them more accountable and more effective for examining their weaknesses.
Comment by pha — July 4, 2010 @ 4:01 pm |
One of the great lessons that I take away from the apology is the value of maintaining your dignity in the face of both the ignorant mob and when facing death. Socrates is assured that he is still acting in an upright and morally correct way even though he cannot control the outcome of the trial. He is confident that eventually people, or people who matter, will see that he was correct and should not have been put to death. Also, when it is certain that he will die, he faces death with ease and confidence. He speculates on two different afterlives, one in which you enter a deep uninterrupted sleep, and the other in which you get to meet all kinds of other dead people who would be interesting to talk to. Either way, he is not afraid of death, even though he doesn’t know exactly what lies on the other side. I think this is how we should all feel about the subject and it is a very comforting view.
Comment by pha — July 4, 2010 @ 4:19 pm |