ESSAY 1

Socrates The Apology 1

The Apology written by Plato gives one of the two existing accounts on the trial and
execution of Socrates by Athenian democracy. The speech given by Socrates for his
defense may have been an idealization of what might have actually happened as Plato can
claim to hold a bias towards Socrates due to him being Socrates disciple. Nonetheless it is
as close as we can get to the factual description of the events that took place as Plato was
present at the trial. In the following essay, I briefly describe the events of that tragic day as
narrated in detail by Plato and illustrate the values Socrates has inevitably succeeded in
embedding in our world today.
The name Apology also in ancient context is sarcastic and means a defense which was
Socrates mounted against the charges brought to him and in no sense means that Socrates
was sorry for what he had done. The charges laid forward by the Athenians claimed Socrates
of blasphemy toward the Greek gods and of corrupting the Athenian youth. Socrates asks
the court to excuse him of speaking in a very plain and crude manner as he is untrained in
the affairs of the court and has never been put on trial before.
Socrates starts by telling the jury that his teachings and behavior stems from the
confirmation from the Oracle of Delphi that he is indeed the wisest of all men. He tells the
court of his curiosity to learn whether he truly was wise and so he questioned the,
supposedly, wise people in Athens on matters of religion among others. In doing so Socrates
earned the wrath of those wise men and the praise of the youth as he exposed their false
beliefs and hollow claims. He cites the fact that it is their hatred towards him that has
resulted in his trial. Socrates also famously likens himself to a bee that is stinging the horse
which is Athens and in doing so he is waking it up into a renaissance.
However, the jury narrowly finds Socrates guilty and asks him to name his punishment.
Socrates rejects prison and exile and offers to pay a fine to the city after mockingly saying
that he should instead be rewarded for his actions. Socrates questions whether justice is
being served by democracy in Athens and tell the jury has no fear of death for only the gods
know what lies ahead. This is rejected by the jury who sentence him to death. Upon hearing
this verdict Socrates observes that the Athenians cannot see further than their ignorance
and will regret this decision in hindsight.
All the wisdom and sophist ideas of Socrates have truly benefited society today if one
ponders back to what he spoke of. Although it took time for his teachings to trickle through
the ignorant and prejudiced minds of the Greeks nonetheless, it shows us that progress and
discovery wait for no one and are as inevitable as death. It therefore rests upon us to
continue with the flow of change and accept them. I believe Socrates fundamental values
are vastly applicable in modern society. It is not an option for us but it is our duty to
challenge the doubtful, question the wrong and fight for justice. We should neither linger on
hatred for a person who has a superior argument to ours nor should we try to win debates
by creating a boisterous tantrum. Rather we should accept the fact that we have knowledge
of nothing which I believe implies that we should not stop learning. We should acquire

1
Plato, Hackett Publishing Company, Apology of Socrates

knowledge for it is a lifelong process and not let self-confidence lead us to believe that we
know it all.

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