The+Apology

Literapedia Book Notes for
=//The Apology of Socrates// by Plato=

Characters

 * **Socrates**—a man in search of truth

The Introduction of the Defense of Socrates (Socrates is addressing the jury after the charges have been leveled against him) (pp. 500-2)

 * 1) Socrates praises the rhetorical style of his accusers and deprecates his own, plain style of speaking.
 * 2) Socrates explains that he must first answer old accusations (his reputation) and then these new charges.

Old Accusations (pp. 502-6)

 * 1) Wrongly thought to be a sophist—a hired teacher who taught speaking tricks.
 * 2) Declared by Apollo that there is no man wiser than Socrates.
 * 3) After questioning others, Socrates realizes that his wisdom is knowing his own ignorance.

Cross-Examination (pp. 506-9)

 * 1) Two charges: a) doer of evil and corruptor of the youth, and b) teaching false religion.
 * 2) Shows Meletus that if he does corrupt the youth, he cannot be doing so intentionally.
 * 3) Goads Meletus into a charge of atheism, which isn’t consistent with the charge.

True Character (pp. 509-11)

 * 1) Not ashamed of being in danger of losing his life—comparison to Achilles.
 * 2) Would never accept a bargain to promise to stop speaking his mind and questioning the unfair.

Service to Athens (pp. 511-13)

 * 1) Socrates is a God-given gadfly to the state.
 * 2) He obeys his “Spidey-Sense,” telling him right from wrong.
 * 3) In the past he has followed his conscience, both under the previous democracy and under the Thirty Tyrants.

Final Arguments (pp. 514-15)

 * 1) If he truly corrupted the youth, why aren’t those who listened to him as youth but are now adults accusing him?
 * 2) Socrates refuses to parade out friends and relatives to plead for his life and inspire pity.

Penalty Phase (pp. 516-517)—Socrates proposes only a small fine; the prosecution proposes death and wins.

 * 1) Socrates suggests that his “penalty” should be money and honor given by the state, which he has served with his questioning.
 * 2) Exile, the punishment that his accusers truly want, is refused by Socrates.
 * 3) Socrates begrudgingly offers a small fine as his suggested penalty.

Final Address (pp. 517ff.)—Socrates tells the Athenians why they are the true losers.

 * 1) “The difficulty, my friends, is not to avoid death, but to avoid unrighteousness…”
 * 2) Those who voted for death will be punished by the loss of Socrates.
 * 3) “…there is great reason to hope that death is a good…”
 * 4) Socrates asks that his sons will be reproved for any wrong as he reproved Athens.

Book Note Creator
Hal Waller, instructor