Apology Essay - 520 Words

I am not so certain if Socrates approach to his defense is particularly the brightest one, and it certainly is not an apology as the title has named it, but, there is a certain wisdom in the simple, plain structured arguments he presents. One of the first things he mentions, is for the jury to pardon him, in the case that he should slip into his accustomed way of speaking, just as they would pardon a foreigner for speaking in his accustomed manner. This appears to me to be a wise idea, as it is true, even in todays society that we tend to judge people on face value. People who do not speak English well, as Socrates would not have spoken quot;court languagequot; very well, tend to be jusdged as stupid. Socrates next points out that†¦show more content†¦He points this out, thus probably causing the jury to examine themselves, to realize that they may have already convicted him before he even spoke, and to actually listen to what he says afterward. Through all of this, Socrates continues to claim that he is not wise. This brings into question what the real deffinition of wise is. In Socrates case, he claims that he is not wise, and the oracle must have been referring to him as wise because he knows that he knows nothing for certain. The irony of this, is that he claims to know nothing, and then proves every man he questions or talks to, to know even less than him, or at least not more than Socrates. From a scientific point of view, I can completely understand this way of thinking, that the only way to be wise is to question everything. In science, you must question everything, and accept nothing as complete truth. If scientists had accepted without question that the sun revolved around the earth, or that life spontaneously generated from non-living matter, would we be the technological scince-rich society we are today? In science, you cannot blindly accept knowledge without first investigating it. This is what Socrates is doing, except on a larger scale. He is taking all knowledge, and examining it. InShow MoreRelatedApology On The Book Apology1308 Words   |  6 PagesThe book Apology begins with Socrates making a short speech in which he defends his innocence. He was on trial because of the two â€Å"Later† charges against him. Corrupting the youth and disbelief in Athenian gods were among the charges. Before he began his speech, he made it clear to the judges that he is not familiar with the court system and also that it’s his first time in court so that he will be speaking in his â€Å"usual manner†. His accusers warned the judges that he has a great persuasive powerRead More The Apology1451 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper I will be discussing the four charges brought against Socrates in Plato’s essay The Apology# and why exactly each of these charges is completely fictitious. The four charges brought against Socrates were that he argued the physical over the metaphysical, he argued the weaker claim over the stronger claim, he went against th e gods, and he was corrupting the youth (Singer, lecture, 9-15-11). Each of these four charges is false for varying reasons and I will be addressing each explanationRead MoreThe Apology Of Plato Apology983 Words   |  4 PagesAt the beginning of The Apology, Socrates is directly speaking to the jury in Athens. In the beginning of the apology Socrates speaks of accusations that have been made against him throughout his life. There seems to be two different kinds of accusations. The first being biases accusations that have been made on throughout his past and the other being recent accusations. Socrates explains he was accused of being, â€Å" a wise man, a student of all things in the sky and below the earth, who makes theRead MoreApology, By Plato s Apology1298 Words   |  6 Pagesknowing you know nothing.† In â€Å"Apology,† written by Plato, this ethical belief makes a bold appearance demonstrating that true ignorance only revolves around those who think that th ey know everything. In â€Å"Apology,† Socrates learns that the wisest men are those who do not think of themselves of wise, and rather make an approach of going beyond an authentic method of inquiry and helping others seek their personal philosophies which may result in conflict. In Plato’s â€Å"Apology,† Socrates demonstrates thatRead MorePlatos Apology1219 Words   |  5 PagesPlato’s Apology, is by far one of the most logical yet critical thinking text that I have ever read. Plato describes Socrates, the accused atheist and corrupter of youth in ancient Athens, as a true beacon of ethics and morality. The method that Plato uses to depict Socrates on trial gives us a look back on how the trial of a man who encourages one of sound mind to ask questions even to those who are deemed wise in the eyes of others. Despite facing odds that are stacked highly against him, and thisRead MoreApologies Are The New Teachers971 Words   |  4 PagesApologies Are the New Teachers (Three things Learned from Plato’s Apology) There are many writers, authors, and speakers in this world that are considered among the greats, but perhaps the greatest two of western speculation are Plato and Socrates. These two hand in hand had a huge influence on American Literature and others as well. Perhaps one of the most remarkable writings of Plato, since Socrates never once himself wrote anything down, is his writing of Apology. The writings of Apology showedRead More Platos Apology Essay1086 Words   |  5 PagesPlatos Apology Plato’s Apology is the story of the trial of Socrates, the charges brought against him and his maintaining of his own innocence throughout the process. At the onset of the trial, Socrates appears to challenging the charges, which included corrupting the youth, challenging belief in the gods that were accepted and reveled by the State, and introducing a new religious focus, but also belittles his own significance and suggesting that he will not attempt to disprove thatRead More Platos Apology Essay794 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s Apology In the retelling of his trial by his associate, Plato, entitled â€Å"The Apology†; Socrates claims in his defense that he only wishes to do good for the polis. I believe that Socrates was innocent of the accusations that were made against him, but he possessed contempt for the court and displayed that in his conceitedness and these actions led to his death. In his defense, Socrates claims over and again that he is innocent and is not at all wise, â€Å"†¦for I know that I haveRead MorePlatos The Apology Essay1530 Words   |  7 Pageswas – such was the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth.† – Plato â€Å"The Apology† In â€Å"The Apology,† Socrates represents himself in his own trial. He boldly questions the morality of the people of court. In this report, I will be analyzing portions of â€Å"The Apology† in order to reveal the intellectuality of this text within this time frame. I will only discuss bits of â€Å"The Apologyâ€Å" on account that it is a lengthy piece. However, before discussing the speech it is important toRead MoreThe Apology Plato Essay698 Words   |  3 PagesMelinda Leager PHIL 201-03/04/08 Instructor: Dr. Dennis L. Burke September 7, 2012 Response Paper â€Å"The Apology† by Plato In this reading Plato tells the story of Socrates and his trial which ultimately lead to his death sentence. Socrates was a 70 year old man at peace with his own mortality yet willing to face his accusers with an almost definite possibility of death to maintain his own integrity and beliefs and morality. He fully understood from the beginning of his trial what the sentence