M. Luz Presocratics 12

Summary 12
Plato's Apology of Socrates

Summary 13תירבעב ןוטלפאל היגופולאה םוכיס
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Contents

Historical background of Plato's Apologia
meaning of the word apologia
reasons for the composition of Plato's work
its literary genre

Summaries of Plato's Apology of Socrates
Hebrew Summary (Heb. fonts needed to read this section)
English Summary

Analysis
general analysis
detailed analysis

Bibliography

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Historical Background

Meaning of the word apologia
In Greek apologia = defense or plea in a juridical or argumentative situation

Although the English word 'to apologise' is used when wishing to express regret, its meaning in Greek does not necessarily imply any admission of guilt
Furthermore, in Hebrew, Socrates' היגולופא refers to a תיטפשמ הנגה or הירוגנס and not תולצנתה or תוקדטצה
Socrates is neither justifying himself, nor apologising.
But although the concept resembles Hebrew הירוגנסwe should remember that Socrates is presenting his own defense as in all ancient Greek trials and not by means of an advocate רוגנס
In philosophy, however, the Greek word takes on a special ethical meaning, a philosophical justification
e.g., Cardinal Newman's Apologia pro vita sua (Apology for his Life) (1864) where he justifies his move to Catholicism from Protestantism)
Plato's account of Socrates'Apology purports to be a literary account of Socrates' actual defence, but it is also Plato's justification of Socrates' career and his philosophical mission in Athens

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reasons for the composition of Plato's work
After Socrates' trial and execution in 399 BC, minor sophists and politicians continued to attack Socrates in speeches and literary works in order to attack philosophy, or win pro-democratic points in Athenian politics

A sophist called Polycrates (440-370 BC) wrote a literary Prosecution (Kategoria) of Socrates shortly after 394/3.
In it, he expanded on the charges made in court, presenting them as a part of a pro-democratic attack on philosophy put in the mouth of Anytus
Polycrates also spelled out the political (anti-democratic) charges that could not be mentioned in court because of the amnesty protecting critcs of democracy -- he also expanded on Socrates' alleged role as a corrupt teacher of the traitor Alcibiades
Polycrates does not survive but is cited in Socrates' biography by Diogenes Laertius ii.39
Polycrates' work probably furnished Xenophon with material for his reply to the accusation in his Memorabilia of Socrates cap. 1-2 (tran. Hebrew Aryeh Simon)

This encouraged Socrates' pupils to respond with a literary defenses that included both elements of Socrates' historical defense as well as their own response to Polycrates

Plato's Apologia was one of the first of these responses (dating from the late 390's)
as such it responds not only to the original charges but also to the literary charges raised by Polycrates
he adds sections on Socrates' philosophical mission
as well as a philosophical argument on why Socrates did not fear death and felt that his death was for the better.
It is also possible that the discussion of the prejudice created by Aristophanes' Clouds was not discussed by Socrates but added by Plato in reply to Polycrates

Some time after this, Xenophon wrote an Apologia in which he stressed points that he thought were omitted by the other writers -- eg Socrates' personal scorn for death.
some scholars still believe that Xenophon's work preceded that of Plato -- in which case Plato should be seen as replying also to Xenophon's version
they claim that Xenophon writes his Apology with Hermogenes' help, (abt. 385/4) as critique of versions of Plato's and others: as if they stressed Socrates' and the juridicial system(end of speech 1), but not his disdain of death (Xen. Apol. 1-2)
but most scholars do not accept Xenophon's priority

The orator Lysias (459-380) is also said to have composed an Apology to be used by Socrates for his trial but which Socrates refused as ill-suited for him (Diogenes Laertius ii. 40 - Life of Socrates)
Lysias' work may be have really been written in 390 BC as a reply to Polycrates
it could also have been written previous to it, and Lysias could actually sparked off Polycrates who would have been more likely to pay attention to an orator like Lysias than philosophers like Plato or Xenophon

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the literary genre of the Apology

Plato's Apology is thus a literary and philosophical defense of Socrates although formally presented as his historical words.
Thus Aristotle classifies a work like this as a Sokratikos logos -- a Socratic composition.
Although this work is less formally philosophical than Plato's dialogues, Plato does examine a number of philosophical issues in the Apology:

Socrates' philosophical Mission
the role the philosopher must play in society
the continuity of philosophy
Why death should not be feared

All his life, Plato rewrote answers to the charges against Socrates. Some of these were formal speeches incorporated in the Socratic dialogues -- and some were informal dramatic elements that answered various aspects of the charges

In the Crito Plato answers the charges against Socrates as opponent of law and democracy
In the Ion and Republic , Plato answers the charge that Socraes was disrespectful to the poets and chief educators of Greece
In the Phaedo written over 30 years later Socrates is made to set out "a new apologia" but this time for a philosophical audience of his friends, and more liable to convince than did the former apology with the jurors
In the Protagoras, Plato contrasts Socrates' personality and philosophy with those of the sophists but without making it a formal apologia.
In the Symposium, Plato answers the criticsms of Socrates' relations with Alcibiades

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Summaries of Plato's Apology of Socrates

Hebrew Summary (Hebrew fonts needed)

ןוטלפא יפל סטארקוס לש "היגולופא"ה
'א ךרכ ןוטלפא יבתכ ,סביל .ג.י לצא דומיעה יפל

(230-206 'ע) ןושארה םואנה
(206 'ע) אובמ
(208) תושדחה ,(207 'מע) תונשיה תומשאהה
(214-211 'מע) סטארקוס לש תיפוסוליפה ותמישמ
(221-215 'מע) סוטלימ םע יטקלאיד ןויד
(222-221 'מע) תוומה ינפמ דחפ ןיא
(224-222 'מע) אבצב ותורש
(226-225 'מע) היטרקומדה תונורקע תרימש
,תיכרגילואה הכפהמל ותודגנתה
(229-225 'מע) יטילופ שיא וניא ךא
230-229 'מע םוכיסה

(234-231'ע) ינשה םואנה
(233-232 'מע) ותקדיצ
(233 'מע) תולג בריס
(234-233 'מע) ןיפילח שנוע תעצה

(238-234 'ע) ישילשה םואנה
(236-235 'מע) ךישמי יפוסוליפה קוסיעה
(237-236 'מע) הער וניא תוומה
(238-237 'מע) תוומה ירחא םג םייקתהל ךשמהל ותווקת
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English Summary
Plato's Apology of Socrates (page numbers according to that of the Greek text -- the above Hebrew summary refers to pages of Liebes trans.)

First Speech
Introduction
Old accusations (p ), new accusations (p)
Socrates' philosophical mission (p)
Dialectical argument with Meletus (p)
There is no reason to fear death (p)
Socrates' military service (p)
Observance of democratic principles (p)
he opposed the oligarchy but he is not political (p)
Summary of First Speech
Second Speech
Justification of his actions
Refuses exile
Offer of alternative punishment
Third Speech
Philosophical enquiry will continue
Death is not the worst evil
His hope to continue philosophy in the after-life

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Analysis

general analysis
The Apologia is divided into three separate speeches

First speech 17a-35d a defense of the charges raised. Socrates speaks against the charges and prejudice. This speech is perhaps closest to Socrates real words although includes elements meant to reply to Polycrates and others

Seond speech 35e-38b delivered after the verdict of guilty was passed. Socrates has to suggest an alternative punishments instead of death: exile or a fine.
Socrates explains the problem of finding a punishment that does not infringe on continuation of a philosophical life.
Plato depicts Socrates' fearlesness of death.
Third speech 34c-35d Socrates' final words after the verdict -- why he does not fear death. This speech has no place in Athenian court and is probably a philosophical addition
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detailed analysis
First speech
18a-19b (Liebes p 207) Socrates has to overcome two different types of prejudice

old prejudice against Socrates set by the plays of Aristophanes
new official accusations
impiety charged by Meletus
corruption of the youth and antidemocratic activity charged by Anytus

old prejudice

Aristophanes is responsible for latter but it is reconstructed by Meletus as including both impiety and corrpution ׁSocrates is portrayed as a corrupt teacher
first charge of impiety also originates with Aristophanes but Meletus confuses Socrates (with "the atheistic" Anaxagoras) for Aristophanes describes Soc. as seeking to study the heavens (18a)
the second charge of corruption is also in Aristophanes' Clouds but confuses Soc with Protagoras
and this led to confusion (18e) of Socrates with other sophists like Gorgias, Prodicus, Hippias
Socrates' reply is that there are witnesses to the facts
that he never was interested in physis (19d)
and did not believe the sophists were teachers (20a-b) so that he should not be confused with them
nonetheless, Plato does mention Socrates' youthful interest in Anaxagoras in the dialogue Phaedo
Socrates' willingness to approach sophists for dialectical argument may have caused this confusion in the populare mind as is shown by Plato in the dialogues depicting Socrates' encounters with Gorgias, Protagoras, and Hippias -- as well as discussions of the sophists in Euthydemus and in Meno

new prejudice
20c-21a
The real prejudice against him really is because of the Socratic paradox:
he knows nothing and only in this he claims to be wise
this aroused hatred against him (21b, 23ab)
knowledge of his ignorance lead to his philosophical mission in life

his mission to question and to seek (dialectic) -- the unexamined life is no life for a man(21c-23c)
this is explained by Chaerephon's enquiry at Apollo's oracle at Delphi declaring Socrates the wisest of men(21b-)

if this really said at the trial, it may possibly have angered Athenian sentiment
many Athenians felt that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi was prejudiced in favour of the Spartans and the state now used the oracle at Dodona instead
Socrates' remarks could have been interpreted as reminding them of his support at an oracle that supported the enemy
However, it is possible that Socrates did not stress this story since Plato often sees a special relationship Socrates and Apollo -- often identified with the god of logos by Plato
esp. as his temple revered two logoi often quoted by Socrates:
Nothing in excess and Know yourself

he does this by dialectical interrogation of those in Athenian society esteemed for wisdom ( 22b)

politicians (22a)
poets and - priests (b)
and craftsmen (d)

Socrates turns this philosophical interrogation into his philosophical purpose in Athens:
his enquiry leads directly to Plato's dialogues and method of enquiry.
As a result of this interrogation, Socrates finds that although he was ignorant he was not ignorant like the so called wise men
for these people think they know when they do not, while Socrates knows that he does not know and in this sense he kne something (= a Socratic paradox)
As a consequence the young followed Socrates trying to copy his questions to their leaders (23c)
thus arose the charge of corrupting the youth ( 23d) since like Socrates, they also questioned the leaders of democracy and religion, claiming not to believe in the gods and discover the heavens (d)
this charge of corrupitng the youth already raised by the oligarchs for political reasons, just as did the democrates
Plato answers the charge of impiety in the dialogue Euthyprho where he shows that Socrates knows more about natural piety than those who adhere to religion

Plato's description of Socrates enquiry and questioning of the Athenians in Apology 22a-d also resembles a blue print for Plato's future dialogues where Socrates is descried in conversation with

politicians (cf the dialogue Meno) and the military (cf the dialogue Laches)
or the poets (cf the dialogue Ion)
or experts in professions (cf the Republic I)
the young (cf the dialogues Lovers (also called Rivals) and Lysis)
similarly we have Socrates' in criticism of the sophists (cf the dialogues Protagoras, Gorgias, Hippias, Euthydemus)
Meletus' charge of impiety
In this secotion, Plato does not have Socrates reply by means of a speech, but involved in a dialectical interrogation of the prosecutor Meletus (24d-)
how could he have corrupted the whole of society single handed?
why would he want to live in a corrupt society (25c)?
what proof is there that he does not believe in the gods (26b) - he is not Anaxagoras (d)
but charge is inconsistent - not to believe in gods but introduce new ones (27b)
in reality, the prosecution means Socrates' frequent references to his 'guardian conscience' agathos daimon and to notifications from his consicence ( semeion)

Real charges (28a)
Socrates understands the real charges as political
he holds aloof from politics
but raises pupils who are dangerous to democracy
Socrates will not comprimise
he does not fear death (e)
it is impious to kill him as Apollo's servant 30c (cf Phaedo)
he has abstained from direct involvement in political llife in obedience to his guardian consicence -- his daimonion (30d)
Meletus tries to make this a god, but is in reality his forbidding conscience

but he did his civic duty in the council
and opposed not only rabble-rousing politicians who tried to take illegal actions -- as the attempt to linch-trial the admirals of the battle of Arginusae but also the rule of the thirty tyrants 32a-: but Arginusae affair shows Socrates opposed to democracy who voted for an illegal trial, and the thiry remind jurors of Socrates' pupils who were involved or related to them.
After this speech, out of a total 561 jurors, 250 jurors voted to acquit Socrates and 311 voted to find him guilty

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Second Speech -- offer of an alternative penalty 35e-38b

there was no set punishment, so incumbent on the accused to offer an alternative punishment to that of the accusor.
The latter demands the highest (death)
the accused has to offer a realistic alternative -- the jurors probably expect one or more of the following
exile,
huge fine,
promise never to break the law again -- that is to abstain from discussion with the young
The jurors would have been probably satisfied with exile
but Socrates cannot accept any punishment that would compromise his philosophical research

in exile as he could not freely pursue philosophy without confontation with the host country
he coiuld not promise not to speak to the young as this would end his philsophical activity
he has not money for a huge fine
his friends will pay but he cannot accept a huge sum from them without compromising himself -- he suggests a medium fine paid not by him but by his friends
jokingly Socrates suggests not a fine, but free dinners at the town hall (normally given to civic victors)
In this second vote 170 jurors voted for Socrates' alternative punishment and 391 for death -- i.e. 80 additional jurors voted against him as opposed to the first vote

Xenophon's Apologia describes Socrates' attitude as pride ׁor aloofness from death in that Socrates does not offer a serious alternative to death that the jurors wished to hear.
Perhaps some jurors who voted against accusation now vote for death in disgust at Socrates' attitude:

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Third and Final Speech 38c-42a
This was possibly not actually delivered in court if the accused was taken to prison, and the jury disbanded
but possibly there was an informal speech by Socrates to his friends before he left
Either way, most of the contents of this speech are probably Plato's addition whereby he gives philosophical reasons not to fear death and the call to continue philosophy without him
Most of these speculations about death that Plato puts into Socrates' mouth in the Apology are later changed in Plato's Pythagorean dialogues by Plato into Socrates' mouth<>

Contents
Socrates' prophecy
to those who voted against him
Socrates promises disgrace (38c)
Socrates' memory will continue (39c) -- viz in his pupils' discussions
this prophecy is obviously Plato's insertion with knowledge of events in Athens after Socrates' death.

to those who voted for him, Socrates shows that death is no evil
Socrates' conscience and daimonion are silent i.e. they do not advise Socrates' to oppose the penalty
death is not then morally bad; 39e
the daimonion forbids him flee to exile

Socrates' argument concerning death (the double argument 40c-e):
death is no evil for man
death is either sleep with no dreams, i.e. complete insensitivity;
or death is passage for better life

if it is the former it is not to be feared
if the latter he may enjoy talks with poets and philosophers in after life (irony?)
either way, death should not be feared

This section of the Apology much influenced later arguments in Hellenistic literature
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Bibliography
Hebrew:
5-4 םיקרפ ןוטלפאל אובמ יקרפ רקילג ןנחוי
סטארקוס לגיפש ןתנ
English
Gregory Vlastos, Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosoher (Cambridge)
Charles H. Kahn, Plato and the Socratic Dialogue (Cambridge)
Paul A. Vander Waerdt, The Socratic Movement (Cornell)
older works:
W.K.C. Guthrie, Socrates = Cambridge History of Ancient Philosophy vol. 3
N. Gulley, The Philosophy of Socrates (MacMillan)
G. Vlastos, The Philosophy of Socrates esp. cap. 1,2
Adela Marion Adam, The Apology of Socrates (1914)
John Burnet, Plato Euthyphro, Apology and Crito (1924)

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