Summary
Plato's The Apology is an account of the
speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he
is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized
by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting
the youth of Athens. Socrates' speech, however,
is by no means an "apology" in our modern
understanding of the word. The name of the
dialogue derives from the Greek "apologia," which
translates as a defense, or a speech made in
defense. Thus, in The Apology, Socrates
attempts to defend himself and his
conduct--certainly not to apologize for it.
For the most part, Socrates speaks in a very plain,
conversational manner. He explains that he has no
experience with the law courts and that he will
instead speak in the manner to which he is
accustomed: with honesty and directness. He
explains that his behavior stems from a prophecy by
the oracle at Delphi which claimed that he was the
wisest of all men. Recognizing his ignorance in
most worldly affairs, Socrates concluded that he
must be wiser than other men only in that he knows
that he knows nothing. In order to spread this
peculiar wisdom, Socrates explains that he
considered it his duty to question supposed "wise"
men and to expose their false wisdom as ignorance.
These activities earned him much admiration amongst
the youth of Athens, but much hatred and anger from
the people he embarrassed. He cites their contempt
as the reason for his being put on trial.
Socrates then proceeds to interrogate Meletus,
the man primarily responsible for bringing Socrates
before the jury. This is the only instance in
The Apology of the elenchus, or
cross-examination, which is so central to most
Platonic dialogues. His conversation with Meletus,
however, is a poor example of this method, as it
seems more directed toward embarrassing Meletus
than toward arriving at the truth.
In a famous passage, Socrates likens himself to a
gadfly stinging the lazy horse which is the
Athenian state. Without him, Socrates claims, the
state is liable to drift into a deep sleep, but
through his influence--irritating as it may be to
some--it can be wakened into productive and
virtuous action.
Socrates is found guilty by a narrow margin and is
asked to propose a penalty. Socrates jokingly
suggests that if he were to get what he deserves,
he should be honored with a great meal for being of
such service to the state. On a more serious note,
he rejects prison and exile, offering perhaps
instead to pay a fine. When the jury rejects his
suggestion and sentences him to death, Socrates
stoically accepts the verdict with the observation
that no one but the gods know what happens after
death and so it would be foolish to fear what one
does not know. He also warns the jurymen who voted
against him that in silencing their critic rather
than listening to him, they have harmed themselves
much more than they have harmed him.
