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Apology of Socrates

Plato,

Adela Marion Adam (Editor)

4.20 · Rating details · 44,518 ratings · 1,675 reviews

"Preface: This edition, which is intended for those who have only lately begun the study of Greek, is based on the edition by my husband in the Pitt Press series. Where no simplification or abridgement seemed necessary, I haven't hesitated to use the original wording, but the notes have been for the most part, & the introduction entirely, rewritten. A vocabulary has also b ...more

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Paperback, 128 pages

Published March 1st 1920 by Cambridge University Press (first published -399)

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Jan 11, 2015 Manny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: linguistics-and-philosophy, parody-homage, history-and-biography

[Original review, Jan 11 2015]

Apology of Charlie Hebdo

To the Americans, who rule the world by brute military and economic force, while claiming they're doing it for our own good: fuck off.

To the Russians, who pretend they're not just the same as the Americans, except militarily weaker and less honest: fuck off.

To the Israelis, who take advantage of their American backers to enslave and torture the Palestinians: fuck off.

To the Muslims, who react to the exploitation and torture inflicted on them ...more

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Jan 13, 2014 Riku Sayuj rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: direct-phil, philosophy, spiritual, translated, plato

Double Jeopardy

“Be sure that if you kill the sort of man I say I am, you will not harm me more than yourselves.”

***

“On the other hand, if I say that it is the greatest good for a man to discuss virtue every day, testing themselves and others — for the unexamined life is not worth living for men, you will believe me even less.”

Socrates, of The Apology is an eloquent figure who is an unrivaled guide to the good life – the thoughtful life, and he is as relevant today as he was in ancient At ...more

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Jun 06, 2016 Sean Barrs rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, penguin-l-b-c, classics, ancient-greece, 3-star-reads

“Socrates is guilty of busying himself with research into what’s beneath the earth and in the heaven and making the weaker argument the stronger and teaching the same things to others”

So Socrates is guilty of expanding his mind and teaching his discoveries to his students. Such a terrible man isn’t he, to try to learn more about the world and the existence of mankind? Is this cause of execution, free thinking and questioning the doctrines fed to us? Plato himself was next to be accused; thus “Socrates is guilty of busying himself with research into what’s beneath the earth and in the heaven and making the weaker argument the stronger and teaching the same things to others”

So Socrates is guilty of expanding his mind and teaching his discoveries to his students. Such a terrible man isn’t he, to try to learn more about the world and the existence of mankind? Is this cause of execution, free thinking and questioning the doctrines fed to us? Plato himself was next to be accused; thus, he delivers this speech, this argument, just to show how corrupt society is.

He starts by explaining just how he is going to deliver it. He has been accused of persuading people with his fancy words and his glib rhetoric, so he endeavours to change his approach. His accusers say that people aren’t following the content of his speech, but have become enamoured by the magnificence of his oration. Therefore, Plato is going to make this very basic. He is going to present a simple argument in very simple words just to prove that this surface level slander is false. He’s not going to persuade his audience, but give them the most basic of facts: they can make their own mind up. He’s not going to patronise his audience.

description

And thus follows his defence of his teacher, and a channelling of his master’s mind. Socrates was dangerous to the Greek state. Free thinking is wonderful, but if it questions the ruling body, and the tools they use to rule, then it’s dangerous. Indeed, his atheism, or supposed atheism, was considered a risky business, one that could easily spread. But, the real problem as his individuality and the power his following commanded. He opened the minds of his students, allowed them to think and philosophise, and he died for it. And he, being the embedment of civil obedience, approached his fate with courage. He didn’t run from Athens like many would have. To his mind, he was innocent. So why flee?

description

This was an interesting read. I find myself drawn to woks of ancient Greece lately. I have a stack of Tragedy sat on my book shelf (Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus). But this was a little dry in places. It lacked the passion that Plato deliberately avoided, and as a result some of it was a trifle mundane to read. I still want to read Republic though.

Penguin Little Black Classic- 52

description

The Little Black Classic Collection by penguin looks like it contains lots of hidden gems. I couldn’t help it; they looked so good that I went and bought them all. I shall post a short review after reading each one. No doubt it will take me several months to get through all of them! Hopefully I will find some classic authors, from across the ages, which I may not have come across had I not bought this collection.
...more

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May 30, 2013 Roy Lotz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: oldie-but-goodie, footnotes-to-plato, platonic-love

This is perhaps the most iconic of Plato’s works, the closest thing that philosophy has to a Sermon on the Mount. And just as with our Biblical narratives, the dialogue presents a historical difficulty. To what extent is this speech fact, and to what extent invention? The only other record we have of the trial is from Xenophon, who wasn’t even there. Plato was there—or at least he asserts that he was—and yet it beggars belief that the young, would-be amanuensis could retain the entire speech in This is perhaps the most iconic of Plato’s works, the closest thing that philosophy has to a Sermon on the Mount. And just as with our Biblical narratives, the dialogue presents a historical difficulty. To what extent is this speech fact, and to what extent invention? The only other record we have of the trial is from Xenophon, who wasn’t even there. Plato was there—or at least he asserts that he was—and yet it beggars belief that the young, would-be amanuensis could retain the entire speech in his mind after one hearing, or that he could write it down with tolerable accuracy as the events unfolded. It seems far more likely (to me at least) that this speech is more or less a fabrication made well after the fact, attempting to preserve the flavor and impression of Socrates’ final speech but not the exact words themselves.

All speculation notwithstanding, the essential facts are preserved: Socrates was accused of denying the gods and of corrupting the youth, made a bold and waggish defense of himself, was convicted, refused to mitigate the consequences, and triumphantly accepted the death penalty. Yet what really emerges from this speech is not a record of events but the portrait of a man.

Here Plato reveals himself to be a writer of the highest order. Fact or fiction, Plato’s Socrates is one of the great characters of literature. Though Socrates’ life is at stake, he does not falter for a moment. He treats the accusations with amusement, dismissing them with playful arguments that reveal his absolute indifference to the outcome. Far from bowing and scraping to preserve his life, Socrates flaunts his superiority to his accusers, couching his boasts in an ironical humility. He is a man in perfect control of himself and in perfect peace with the world.

Even if the real Socrates was truly this remarkable, it would have taken a writer of exquisite talent to effectively render him in prose. And if this is largely Plato’s invention, we must rank him along with Shakespeare, for Socrates utters now-famous phrases nearly as quickly as Hamlet. Western philosophy could not have asked for a more rousing beginning. ...more

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Sep 27, 2017 booklady rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, 2017

This little ‘book’, a mere conversation actually, is the source of so many excellent quotes as to be indispensable to our Western heritage. I was reading a few to my dear husband the other night and he wanted me to send them to him. Sadly, we—as a society—want to expunge this type of literature from our children’s education because it was written by ‘dead white men’.

Oh foolish people! But then, that is also what Socrates died for—men’s fear of the Truth. It was the same back in Athens when he di This little ‘book’, a mere conversation actually, is the source of so many excellent quotes as to be indispensable to our Western heritage. I was reading a few to my dear husband the other night and he wanted me to send them to him. Sadly, we—as a society—want to expunge this type of literature from our children’s education because it was written by ‘dead white men’.

Oh foolish people! But then, that is also what Socrates died for—men’s fear of the Truth. It was the same back in Athens when he died. As was written by another wise man, ‘there is nothing new under the sun’.

Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from this wonderful ‘apology’ for Truth:

‘Someone will say: And are you not ashamed, Socrates, of a course of life which is likely to bring you to an untimely end? To him I may fairly answer: There you are mistaken: a man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying; he ought only to consider whether in doing anything he is doing right or wrong—acting the part of a good man or of a bad. … For wherever a man's place is, whether the place which he has chosen or that in which he has been placed by a commander, there he ought to remain in the hour of danger; he should not think of death or of anything but of disgrace.’

‘For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no one knows whether death, which men in their fear apprehend to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good.’

‘I would rather die having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live. … The difficulty, my friends, is not to avoid death, but to avoid unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death.’

‘If you think that by killing men you can prevent someone from censuring your evil lives, you are mistaken; that is not a way of escape which is either possible or honorable; the easiest and the noblest way is not to be disabling others, but to be improving yourselves.’

And my favorite, ‘…the unexamined life is not worth living.’

Indeed! It is not that we become navel-gazers, but that we realize Whose we are and give ourselves over to love of Truth.

September 27, 2017: Read this many years ago ... cannot remember when. Time for a reread. ...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Mike W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of the best works of philosophy or literature ever written. It is Plato's version of Socrates's defense at his trial. The word "apology" here means defense. Socrates is on trial for his life for blasphemy and for corrupting the youth of Athens. He very easily leads his primary accuser, Meletus, into contradictions. And he tries to explain to the jury and to the spectators how it is that he gained a reputation as a wise man among some, and a villain among others. One of Socrates's adm This is one of the best works of philosophy or literature ever written. It is Plato's version of Socrates's defense at his trial. The word "apology" here means defense. Socrates is on trial for his life for blasphemy and for corrupting the youth of Athens. He very easily leads his primary accuser, Meletus, into contradictions. And he tries to explain to the jury and to the spectators how it is that he gained a reputation as a wise man among some, and a villain among others. One of Socrates's admirers went to the Oracle at Delphi (which was thought to be pro-Spartan) and asked the priestesses there if anyone in Athens were wiser than Socrates. The answer was no. Socrates, on hearing this, claims to have been incredulous. "I said to myself, 'What can the God mean? And what is the interpretation of this riddle? For I know that I have no wisdom..." And so Socrates says that he decided to inquire among his fellow Athenians to fine one wiser than himself and prove the Oracle wrong. He went to the poets and politicians and artisans, and failed to find anyone with any real wisdom. And he reluctantly concluded that the Oracle was right, that even though he knew that he did not really know anything, he was at least aware of his ignorance, and so was better off than other Athenians, who were ignorant even of their ignorance. But in the process, he and his young admirers embarrassed many vain men by exposing their ignorance, and Socrates argues that this is the source of their enmity toward him. And Socrates rather amusingly compares his own efforts to the famous labors of Herculues, a move that could not fail to further antagonize his enemies, since Hercules was one of the greatest heros of Greek myth. He also later compares himself to Achilles, another great Greek hero.

In his defense, Socrates offers the most beautiful and powerful defense of philosophy and the life of virtue ever given. "I do nothing" he says, "but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, to take no thought for your persons or your properties, but first and foremost to care about the greatest improvement of the soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by money but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man."

Socrates courageously refused to concede any guilt, and even antagonized the jury by calling himself a gadfly sent by God to stir Athens from its dogmatic slumber, that is, a benefactor to the state who deserves public pay, rather than punishment. So they convicted him and sentenced him to death. This was, as he had predicted, a permanent stain on Athens.

Everyone ought to read this dialogue, not once but many times. It will hopefully spur the reader to examine his own life, for as Socrates says, "the unexamined life is not worth living." ...more

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Jan 29, 2021 Jin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I always wonder about the skills of these highly intellectual, talented people of Ancient times. It's a delight to read Socrates' legal defence and you can feel his charisma through the words. Such a shame that there are only few (if at all) who can compete on his level of logic, ethos and pathos. And it's such a shame never to be able to witness a "performance" of his speech since the performance itself with its gesture and voice also has a huge impact on the audience. ...more

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Aug 31, 2014 Manny rated it really liked it

Shelves: history-and-biography, linguistics-and-philosophy, celebrity-death-match

Celebrity Death Match Special: Plato versus Isaac Asimov, part 4 (continued from here)

[A spaceship en route from Trantor to Earth. SOCRATES and R. DANEEL OLIVAW]

SOCRATES: Hadn't we already said goodbye?

OLIVAW: Forgive me, Socrates. I had forgotten that you were going back to a death sentence.

SOCRATES: It is easy to forget such details.

OLIVAW: I am truly sorry, Socrates. Indeed, I am surprised that my First Law module permitted me to do it. But you are just so... so...

SOCRATES: Irritating?

OLIVA ...more

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Feb 04, 2021 Alan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy

“Well, gentlemen, for the sake of a very small gain in time you are going to earn the reputation – and the blame from those who wish to disparage our city – of having put Socrates to death.”

It is quite normal, I think, to read the Apology and feel as though Socrates has blundered horribly in judgment – he has said the very things that will drive him to the grave. After hearing of the declaration of the Oracle of Delphi that there is no one wiser than him, he has taken it upon himself to ensure t ...more

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Dec 05, 2015 leynes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

After four years, I finally managed to reread this thing, and I'm glad that I did. It really goes to show that not all of my remaining brain cells have died during this lockdown, especially after having exclusively read old YA trilogies and Batman comics. (Yep, I'm living my best life currently.)

Anyways, Socrates' Defence (or: The Apology of Socrates as it is more commonly known) was written by Plato and is a Socratic dialogue of the speech of legal self-defence which Socrates spoke at his tria ...more

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Aug 28, 2021 Matthew Ted rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ancient-world, philosophy, ancient-greece, translated

Reviewing this alone as well as I work my way through Plato's first "tetralogy" (Euthyphro, Apology (Socrates' Defence), Crito, Phaedo). Though the thoughts in Euthyphro are interesting it is ultimately unsatisfying as a dialogue. Apology, as it is titled in my Tredennick and Tarrant translation, is far more satisifying to read, but with only a single speaker: Socrates. He fails in the attempt to defend himself against charges set against him. I'll write more about it in my final review of the w ...more

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Dec 20, 2015 Liz Janet rated it liked it · review of another edition

Plato and I are not buddies. I find him interesting, but also think of him as a lunatic grandpa with unrealistic views of the world. Therefore, he is not my favourite old Greek man to read, but this is his best. This is Socrates “apology” for what he did. Basically, Socrates invented philosophy, and then he was killed for it. I mean, they did not just kill him like they did Hypathia, he had a “proper trial” and all. Please, read the entire work instead of the short snippet, reading it in full ha ...more

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Dec 01, 2014 Brad Lyerla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read the APOLOGY this week in THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF SOCRATES: FOUR DIALOGUES published by Dover. The translator is Benjamin Jowett.

APOLOGY is Plato's re-creation of Socrates' summation in his own defense against the indictment that he corrupted the youth of Athens with blasphemous philosophical teachings. It is fascinating as much for the defiant and mocking tone that Socrates adopts -- certainly knowing that it would seal his fate -- as it is for its demonstration of rhetorical logic. In st ...more

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Sep 01, 2012 David Sarkies rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Everybody

Recommended to David by: David Hester

Shelves: philosophy

In defense of philosophy
1 September 2012

These days when we think of the word apology we usually connect it with us saying sorry for something that we have done wrong, however that is not necessarily the origin of the word. Christianity has a field of study known as apologetics, and once again, this is not necessarily saying sorry for the many evils deeds that have been committed under the name of Christianity but rather putting up a defense against attacks that are generally levelled against th In defense of philosophy
1 September 2012

These days when we think of the word apology we usually connect it with us saying sorry for something that we have done wrong, however that is not necessarily the origin of the word. Christianity has a field of study known as apologetics, and once again, this is not necessarily saying sorry for the many evils deeds that have been committed under the name of Christianity but rather putting up a defense against attacks that are generally levelled against the faith itself. This is what the Apology of Socrates is about, it is the defense that Socrates made against the charges that were levelled against in in 399 BC which ultimately led to his defense. I note that the dating of this work is about 9 years after Socrates' death, so many of the sayings (such as the 'unexamined life is not worth living') however we should note that Plato was present at the trial so this is in effect a first hand account. Also, it is clear that this was transcribed and published at least 9 years after the events themselves, and since the memories of the ancients were much better than our memories (namely because they did not have sources such as Wikipedia at their disposal) I am willing to accept that this is a fairly accurate report of what happened at the trial.

The Apology is divided into three parts, corresponding with the way that an Athenian trial would be conducted. Remember that when you appeared in court you were not allowed to have somebody appear on your behalf, as is the practice today, but had to make your charges and answer them yourself. As such a hugely profitable business arose in which speech writers would write the speech on your behalf for you to deliver it. No doubt Miletus, the person making the accusation against Socrates, either used this service, or was a sophist (the person who would write the speech) yourself.

The first, and the longest, section of the Apology is Socrates' defense. From reading the defense we can determine that the charges were twofold, heresy and corrupting the youth. During his response, he refers to Anaxagoras, a philosopher who was also brought up on charges of heresy, but Socrates distances himself from Anaxagoras namely because Anaxagoras was an atheist, Socrates was not. The second charge, corrupting the youth, is not the same as we would understand it today. Today, crimes against youths (that is people under the age of 18) are generally always sexual, though crimes to exist where the perpetrator encourages the youth to commit a crime. The charge against Socrates was that he taught the youth to question everything, and that his teachings were decidedly anti-democratic.

It is clear from the Apology that Socrates held a very dim view of Athenian Democracy, and from what we can gather, I am not surprised. It has been suggested that Socrates leant to the right but I do not believe that we can ascribe modern politcal theory to the politics of Athens, in a way it simply does not work. The concern Socrates had with Athenian democracy was that it was clearly based on popular opinion rather than upon truth and justice. Once example he raises is the events at the battle of Arginusae. Despite that battle being an Athenian victory, it was also quite disastrous for the city, best described as a Pyrrhic victory (despite Pyrrhus living after these events). As a result, the generals were put on trial, and despite the generals actually being innocent and the trial being little more that a witchhunt, they were found guilty by popular opinion and thus executed. This is the problem that Socrates had with democracy (and in many ways it is still the case today, where a government will act unconstitutionally because popular opinion demands that the government act as such).

The concerns that a certain party had was that Socrates' teachings would undermine the democratic system of which Athens was so proud of, however Socrates' position was that one should only act in a just manner, and it is this desire for justice that made Socrates such a thorn in people's side. Socrates' himself even says that he stayed well away from public office simply because he did not trust himself to be able to maintain his position with regards to justice if he were to find himself in a position of power. Obviously he was required to attend the assembly, as was expected of all Athenian citizens, however he never put himself forward (or so we are told) to be elected to the executive council, or any of the other positions that were available to Athenian citizens.

The second part of the Apology is where Socrates puts forward his proposed punishment. Once again it is similar to our legal system where once a person is found guilty (and in Athens is was not beyond reasonable doubt, but rather a balance of probablities, and of the 500 members of the jury, just over half voted in favour of his guilt, so it appears to have been a tight run thing) both sides have the option of swaying the judge in regards to the punishment. No doubt the prosectution always goes for the toughest sentence possible, while the defense will then put forward a sentence that is much lighter. Socrates, however, suggests that the only sentence that is beneficial for him would be death simply because he has no money to pay a fine, and that even imprisonment is not an option because of the fact that he is poor. He also considers banishment, but suggests that due to his reputation, and due to his age, there really is no point. He does settle on the idea of a fine, however did suggest that due to his influence in the city, maybe being treated as a hero was much better.

Obviously he was sentanced to death, to the third part of the Apology is his final speech to the jury, and he indicates that he really doesn't care. He is not scarred of death and he feels that he has lived a long enough life that death does not really concern him, particularly since he is destined to die anyway. Even then, the uncertainty of death simply means that it is another opportunity for him to learn something new.

I wish to finish off on another comment that he makes, and that is that if they do execute him they should be aware that somebody like him is unlikely to come around for a long time yet, so they need to be aware that once he is gone, he is gone for good. Mind you, others have appeared (Jesus Christ for instance) however he is quite correct in that, not that he is being arrogant, but indicating that his motivations, and his desire for truth and justice, is what keeps the city for falling into obscurity. He sees himself as a challenger and as a moderator against the extremes. He also speaks of his voice whom he listens to because the voice moderates his activity. It is not that he voice tells him to do things, but rather tells him not to do things. He is very clear on that, and one thus questions whether this is schizophrenia in the true sense. Mysterious voices tend to urge people on to do things (and usually bad things) however Socrates is quite clear that his voice is a voice of restraint. To be honest with you, I am more likely to listen to a voice of restraint than I am to listen to the opposite, and the reason for this is that restraint tends to protect you from putting your foot in your mouth and making enemies than does a voice that urges you on to do things that maybe you shouldn't really be doing. ...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Capsguy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: greek

Not even your Socratic arguing could save you. Such a pity that we still haven't changed, not in all of these thousands of years. Even though he knew he was doomed, he still did not submit and whimper like a coward, begging for mercy. When you are outside the grasp of power, no matter how well you try to persuade those to look into the right direction, if they, for their own gains are against it, you're screwed.

I don't know if I could do the same, be presented with life (even thought I'd be nea ...more

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Sep 20, 2021 Bonnie G. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy, history, classics, law

I ended up having a conversation about this with a student today. Having read it the first time 40ish years ago it never made it to my GR. I have a copy of this on my shelf, and poke in and out of it on occasion still. Sometimes I need to read the words of a man who would rather die than forsake the pursuit of knowledge. It makes me believe in the possibility of a better future on the hard days. Anyway... after I argued with this student who did not believe that dispassionately acknowledging you ...more

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Feb 12, 2022 Ana rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: school-reads, academia, 3-star-ok, 2022-challenge

3 stars

dude this socrates guy was spitting bars lowkey. like if i was being sentenced to death i would be crying and shit

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Aug 26, 2015 Sam Quixote rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is Plato’s account of his mentor, Socrates, as he met his accusers in Athenian court to defend himself against charges of blasphemy and corrupting the young.

Socrates makes short work of the weak arguments made by his chief accuser, Meletus, through logical deconstruction. What’s interesting is that the defence isn’t really of Socrates against his charges but of his life and philosophy, which is basically what the trial is really about.

His latest troubles began when the Oracle at Delphi ann This is Plato’s account of his mentor, Socrates, as he met his accusers in Athenian court to defend himself against charges of blasphemy and corrupting the young.

Socrates makes short work of the weak arguments made by his chief accuser, Meletus, through logical deconstruction. What’s interesting is that the defence isn’t really of Socrates against his charges but of his life and philosophy, which is basically what the trial is really about.

His latest troubles began when the Oracle at Delphi announced that “there is no one wiser than Socrates” which puzzled Socrates who maintained that he was not a wise man at all. But he came to realise that he was the only one who was aware of his ignorance while everyone else was ignorant of their ignorance, making him indeed a wise man.

Socrates refuted any charge of atheism - he was a devoutly religious man who cared more deeply about virtue and the soul than anyone, he claimed. The very fact that he spent all of his time demanding people live more philosophically, pursuing thought and virtue over belongings and wealth, pointed to that fact.

Amusingly, he compared himself to a gadfly to the Athenian state, spurring it on act, therefore making him a benefactor and deserving of a salary. Not so amusingly, that was the final straw that led to his death sentence by way of hemlock poisoning.

He was given the choice though to change his ways and live but he kept to his principles, knowing he would die by doing so. If only we could all meet our end with the dignity and fearlessness Socrates did. As he predicted, he became a martyr to the state and his words live on today.

If there’s a problem, it’s with this Little Black Classics edition which really could’ve benefitted from a page of context before launching into Socrates’ monologue. As it is, I stopped reading after a few pages, went online to read the background to the case, and returned more edified. All this edition needs is a couple paragraphs preceding it.

Otherwise, this is a fine piece of writing that is as relevant today as it was in antiquity. Socrates speaks through Plato across the millennia to remind us the unexamined life isn’t worth living, to reject materialism and to never stop thinking - fine words to live by. ...more

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May 14, 2021 saïd rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: grèce, 2_nonfiction, traduction_talk

#SocratesIsOverParty

Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους: Socrates's Apology.

This is Plato's version of Socrates's speech in 399 BCE in defence of himself against the charges of corrupting the youth of Athens and "not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia [δαιμόνῐᾰ]." The word apology (ἀπολογία) has its earlier meaning of a defence of beliefs or actions, a definition now typically associated with the word apologia. Plato was not the only student or follower of Socrates to write a version of Socrates's famous speech, although almost all of the others have been lost. Socrates warned the council that, were they to sentence him to death, they would ultimately regret the decision. Whether they actually did is unknown, as Socrates was unsuccessful in his defence, and was sentenced to death by inflicted suicide (ingestion of hemlock). Interestingly, Socrates addresses his friends, reassuring them that his death would be ultimately positive, as it would be better than the majority of life. Also interestingly, Plato's version of Socrates does not take any of the obvious opportunities to portray himself to the jury in a favourable light, but instead notes that he wanted to die a death he could be proud of, in which he ultimately succeeded—no matter how he was regarded at the time, the legacy of this speech and the contextual circumstances surrounding it has eclipsed the doctrine of the city of Athens.

This 1997 revised edition features (parts of) Benjamin Jowett's translation, probably the most-studied translation of the apology, alongside the original Ancient Greek text. The commentary, complete vocabulary, and grammatical notes (sentence diagrammes, principal parts of verbs, word frequency lists, etc.) are provided by Dr. James J. Helm, a classicist and professor. Each brief section of Ancient Greek text (typically 9-10 lines, around 1/3 of a page from John Burnet's 1905 Oxford Classical Text version of the original text) is equipped with extensive corresponding annotations regarding vocabulary, colloquialisms, contextual information, and other help in translating, arranged below. This edition is excellent for intermediate students of Ancient Greek. It uses the Stephanus numerical categorisation system, a paging system was developed by Henri Estienne dit Stephanus, who published a multivolume edition of Plato's dialogues in 1578. Estienne divided each page in his edition into roughly equal sections, which he labelled a through e, thus allowing readers to locate particular passages by section letter as well as page number (i.e., 17a). Many modern editions evolved this system by dividing each section into individual lines (i.e., 17a1). Since most editions of Plato include the Stephanus page numbers in the margins of the text, a reader could pick up any volume of Plato—in Greek or in translation—and easily locate a particular passage in the dialogue.

For example, here is an approximate replication of the first page:

17a1
ὅ τι μὲν ὑμεῖς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, πεπόνθατε ὑπὸ τῶν
ἐμῶν κατηγόρων, οὐκ οἶδα· ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν
ὀλίγου ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπελαθόμην, οὕτω πιθανῶς ἔλεγον.

Apparatus Criticus (a record of major manuscript variants and modern conjectures): a2 ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν B: ἐγὼγ᾽ οὖν T [...] a3 ἐμαυτόν[1] T

Notes
I. Introduction (προοίμιον) — 17a1-18a6

12a1 ὅτι "(that) which" (indefinite relative pron.—S2496); or "what" (indirect interrogative pron.—S1263).
— ὑμεῖς: the subject is expressed and therefore emphatic (S930).
— ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι: Socrates avoids the official title of the jurors (ἄνδρες δικασταί[2]) and addresses them simply as citizens of Athens.
— πεπόνθατε is perf. of πάσχω: "experience."
— ὑπὸ: "because of," "at the hands of" = ὑπό + gen. of agent with a passive verb (S1698.1b & 1378). Here πάσχω serves in effect as the passive of ποιέω.[3]

17a2 δ(ε) οὖν: "but at any rate" (*GP461).
— καὶ αὐτὸς: "even myself" (καὶ is adverbial).

17a3 ὀλίγου (supply δεῖν, an inf. absolute—S2012d): "(lacking) little"; i.e., "almost" (S1399).
— ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπελαθόμην (from ἐπι-λανθάνομαι): "I forgot myself"; i.e., I forgot who I was. Verbs of remembering and forgetting take a gen. object (S1358).

[1] ἐμαυτόν; m. acc. sing. of ἐμαυτοῦ.
[2] lit. "(gentle)men of the jury."
[3] ποιέω, make. ...more

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Sep 01, 2013 Steve added it · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy, greek

Perhaps the most famous of the Socratic dialogues, the Apology (in the sense of apologia or defense before a tribunal) presents Socrates (469-399 BCE) as he defends himself against charges that he corrupted the youth of Athens and did not honor the proper gods. It is probably not a spoiler to say that Socrates was convicted and condemned to death. Subsequently, many of Socrates' pupils wrote their versions of the events and of the words spoken, though most have been lost. The Apology is a Perhaps the most famous of the Socratic dialogues, the Apology (in the sense of apologia or defense before a tribunal) presents Socrates (469-399 BCE) as he defends himself against charges that he corrupted the youth of Athens and did not honor the proper gods. It is probably not a spoiler to say that Socrates was convicted and condemned to death. Subsequently, many of Socrates' pupils wrote their versions of the events and of the words spoken, though most have been lost. The Apology is a recounting through Plato's (427-347 BCE) eyes. I am re-reading Benjamin Jowett's famous translation of this dialogue, for Socrates has been much on my mind recently.

Just four years earlier, the tyrants imposed upon the Athenians by the Spartans at the end of the Peloponnesian War had been deposed, and the unique Athenian form of democracy had been reinstated, though, according to Plato, it was reinstated in a degenerate form. One aspect of Athenian democracy is that Socrates was not tried by twelve good men firm and true with one presiding judge, but by hundreds of judges and even more jurymen (probably 501). Since Socrates was very well known around the city, I imagine that everyone eligible who could cram themselves into the area set aside for the trial participated somehow. And so one must imagine Socrates looking out at the huge crowd of his judges and jury and recognizing everyone, his enemies and his friends.

The "dialogue" is actually told entirely in the first person from Socrates' point of view, with the exception of his dismantling one of his accusers in a cross examination.(*) The actions and speeches of the other participants must be deduced from Socrates' words.

As presented by Plato, Socrates first speaks in an artful directness that could not have failed to have the desired effect upon open minds. Alas, open minds were not what he could expect to find, since he had, inadvertently or not, made fools of many self-impressed citizens and had a lifetime of slander to overcome. As the Japanese say, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Socrates addresses these points head on, but acknowledges that he has little chance of changing closed minds and will not be the last good man to be brought down by jealousy and resentment.

So he changes tack and provides an eloquent summary of the principles by which he lives. In the midst of this comes a passage which I must quote:

For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unkown; and no one knows whether death, which men in their fear apprehend to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good. Is not this the ignorance of a disgraceful sort, the ignorance which is the conceit that a man knows what he does not know?

He is convicted by a margin of 60 votes. In a passage that appears to me to be dripping in irony, he explains why, instead of the death penalty requested by his accusers, he should be given a light fine. It is death...

Socrates warns his condemners that they will regret their decision. But more interesting is his reassurance to his friends that his death will be a good thing, not a bad one. He mentioned earlier that a voice, or oracle, from the gods guides him by forbidding incorrect actions, but that this voice had not made itself heard at any time during the trial. He then leaves that aside and argues, from a distinctly Greek point of view (**), that whichever of the two possible outcomes of death arrives, it will be better than most of life. I think it clear that he is trying to console his friends, but more on this when we get to the Crito .

(*) While I'm at it, let me say that some of the arguments Plato has Socrates make in this dismantling are real and to the point, but others are rhetorical traps, pure and simple. So despite his protestations to the contrary (no surprise), Socrates' defense is not that of a plain speaking homeboy... In fact, such a protestation is a well known rhetorical ploy.

(**) Christianity posits horrors without end as one of the two possible outcomes of death, and I would like to express my hearty thanks for this contribution to civilization. I find particularly gratifying the addendum made by Calvin and others that the outcome was chosen already at birth and that almost everyone will enjoy the horrors without end. An extra thanks for that... ...more

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Oct 16, 2017 Darwin8u rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: history, classics, philosophy, penguin-little-black-classics, greek, 2018, nonfiction

"If you think killing people will stop anyone reproaching you for not living corrrectly, you are not thinking straight."
- Socrates, as writing by Plato in 'Socrates Defense'

description

Vol N° 52 of my Penguin Little Black Classics Box Set. This volume contains Socrates Defense and is essentially Christopher Rowe's translation of Plato's Apology, which when taken with Euthyphro, Crito, and Phaedo make up The Trial and Death of Socrates.

I've read a different translation of this before (a couple times), but ...more

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Mar 08, 2021 Himanshu Karmacharya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

“For to fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise without really being wise, for it is to think that we know what we do not know. For no one knows whether death may not be the greatest good that can happen to man.”

Apology is Plato's version of the speech delivered by Socrates as he defended himself in the court against the charges of corrupting the young and blasphemy.
It is amusing to read how Socrates tears down his accusers and the charges made against him by using logic and r ...more

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Oct 20, 2017 A Bookish ✧ Fable rated it really liked it · review of another edition

'Do not be upset when I tell you the truth! No human can start an honest fight with you or any other public assembly, nobody can try to stop chrimes and unlawful doings without failing and going under. No, if anyone really should stride for what is right and keep life going for atleast a short period of time, then he must do it as himself , and not as a public speaker.' – Sokrates

(Quote translated personally from Swedish vers.)

This is Platos notes from what Sokrates was saying when he defend ...more

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Aug 16, 2016 Peter rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Wordsmith lovers

Shelves: little-black-classics

Beautiful, just beautiful. You can hear every word Socrates makes so much so that this should be classed as a readable audio book for the way the words inspire and fire the mind.

MORE Socrates and Plato if you will... Bravo, more,more (sound of audiance applause)

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Jan 03, 2009 Christopher rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone

It's been a while since I read this. In fact, I wonder if I really ever did read it. Nonetheless, what struck me in this reading were parallels to the New Testament. Both Jesus and Socrates probed by asking questions, both ruffled the establish, both exposed dearly held pretentiousness, both were condemned by their countrymen.

Even certain phrases in Apology are reflected in the NT (though it could be an accident of translation): "to die is gain", "I shall obey God rather than you", "[do not] tak ...more

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Jan 31, 2019 Onur rated it liked it · review of another edition

The Defense of Socrates consist with three sections. At the first section he defenses himself against to accusation of temptation to children and other offenses, he is too decisive in this section. In the second part he is comments his offense and at the third part he is sending direct message to the judges. It is so interesting.

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Oct 09, 2018 ink rated it liked it · review of another edition

Socrates: I’m innocent and here’s why

Athenians: y’all hear something...........?

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Aug 29, 2020 Luminița Gabura rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Such an unfortunate chance - the first book of Socrate I read is actually the one including his latest sayings. The pleading is moving and it shows in multiple instances the unfairness of Athenians towards the philosopher and perhaps the inaccuracy of the jury trials in that era.

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Sep 03, 2020 Brad Balderson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Put on trial for asking too many questions and pointing out when people didn’t know what they thought they knew; the ‘wisest man’ Socrates makes his defence in front of the Athenian assembly.

He had every choice to stop speaking the truth, to accept exile and thereby escape the death penalty; but instead he decided to speak the truth, and with the knowledge he didn’t know whether the outcome would be good or bad - knowing only that his inner voice told him it was the right thing to do - he drunk ...more

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Jun 27, 2015 Joey Woolfardis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: champion, masculine, bookshelf, 2015, literary, fact, greek, bce4

Probably the best of the 80 so far. Socrates was a wonderful man who knew what was what. It's a sad thing that the world hasn't changed since 360 BCE when he made this speech before he was *SPOILER ALERT* put to death for corrupting the youth with his truth

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy. ...more

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The History Book ...: * PLATO'S - THE APOLOGY	7	159	Mar 21, 2015 02:08PM
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Classics and the ...: Holiday Interim I: Plato's Apology	172	101	Dec 13, 2013 02:20PM
BCS Great Books C...: How do you interpret the statement, "The unexamined life is not worth living"?	2	18	Oct 31, 2013 10:37AM
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Plato

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(Greek: Πλάτων) (Arabic: أفلاطون) (Alternate Spelling: Platon, Platón, Platone)
Plato is a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the foundations of Western p ...more

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The Trial and Death of Socrates (Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo)

Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo

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“I thought to myself: I am wiser than this man; neither of us probably knows anything that is really good, but he thinks he has knowledge, when he has not, while I, having no knowledge, do not think I have.” — 232 likes

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