The Apology Written By Plato Essay - 919 Words

The Apology Written By Plato, is a detailed account of the trial of Socrates, who was a great philosopher in Athens. Socrates was brought to trial based on charges of â€Å"corrupting the youth† and â€Å"not believing in the gods† (23d). The people of Athens believed Socrates was corrupting the youth because they simply did not understand his method of inquiry, which consisted of Socrates teaching them to question what they thought to be true. Socrates’ method of inquiry drove his listeners to question their beliefs and often brought them to a state of puzzlement, or a state Plato calls ‘aporia.’ There are many examples of the Socratic method present in The Meno, which is also written by Plato. The entirety of The Apology consists of Socrates†¦show more content†¦This idea then leads onto the question of whether virtue is one thing or many things. Meno is then brought to aporia, now having trouble even defining virtue. The use of Socratesâ €™ inquiry in the Meno is a perfect example to show how Socrates pushed his listeners to question their own knowledge. Socrates never told Meno his definitions were wrong and his own were right, rather continued to question Meno’s conclusions to show him that he did not know the true meaning of virtue. The people of Athens were unable to accept the fact that many of them were ignorant on topics such as the definition of virtue, whereas Socrates himself was able to admit it. The Athenians disguised Socrates’ true desire to teach people for corruption and impiety because they believed he was trying to humiliate them. Although the people of Athens were blind of Socrates’ true intentions, his method of inquiry did in fact benefit the city of Athens. Socrates’ methods eliminated ignorance and increased proper knowledge on important things such as virtue and knowledge within the city of Athens, which is what he meant when he said he was â€Å"a gift of the gods to the city of Athens.† In lines 31b Socrates stated, â€Å"That I am the kind of person to be a gift of the god to the city† as a defense towards the accusations that he was corrupting the youth of Athens. The people of Athens believed that Socrates’ methods of teaching were malicious and even thought he wasShow MoreRelatedPlato s Views On Socrates928 Words   |  4 Pageswritings on Socrates came from one of his own disciples, Plato. Plato’s writings are the reason Socrates is historical figure he is today, without them Socrates would have been nothing more than a minor presence (Navia 93). Plato’s writings are classified as either early, middle, or late. However, only the early writings best portray the real Socrates (Navia 105). These writings include the Euthyphro, Crito, Phaedo, and most importantly the Apology, which discusses the trial and execution of SocratesRead MorePlato And Plato s The Apology1623 Words   |  7 Pagesoppose to philosophers such as Plato And Socrates who focused more on ethics or morality. Plato’s conception of God and religion can be depicted in his literatures â€Å"Euthyphro† and â€Å"The Apology† which he expresses through his writings of Socrates in dialogue formation. While one may assume that both Plato and Socrates shared analogous notions of God and religion it is impossible to truly know given the Socratic problem. The problem lies in that there are no written copies of Socrates ideologies, henceRead MoreWhat Are The Charges Against Socrates?1019 Words   |  5 Pagesagainst Socrates as recorded in the Apology. Is he guilty of them? Why or why not? 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Although Plato s version of Apology is popularly believed to be (the most accurate) historical recount of what happened in 399 B.C on the day of Socrates trial, historians cannot be sure the validity of everything he wrote. It can be argued that it is actually a philosophical work, remarking on the teachings of Socrates and his beliefs, which he stood by even until hisRead MoreThe Big Three Ancient Greek Philosophers1107 Words   |  5 Pagesas Plato and Aristotle. These two philosophers are regarded as two of what some call the Big Three of Philosophy. â€Å"Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. You can’t begin a study of world philosophy without talking about these guys: the Big Three ancient Greek philosophers†(Cohen). Aristotle was Plato’s student, and the remaining member of the Big Three was Plato’s teacher, Socrates. Socrates is regarded as one of the most influential thin kers in history. This assumption coming from Dialogues written byRead MoreUnderstanding Philosophy and Its Benefits1194 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding Philosophy and its Benefits By: Anonymous Understanding Philosophy and its Benefits 1 Many of Plato’s dialogues such as the Euthyphro, Apology, Crito and Phaedo are based upon the same reoccurring theme, the defense of the study of philosophy. Plato’s dialogues notable for their depth in a relatively narrow framework, attempt to argue the benefits of philosophical reasoning through essence, knowledge and truth. To understand the benefits of philosophy one must pose the questionRead MoreSocrates One Day At 399 B.c 977 Words   |  4 PagesMay 2017 Socrates One day in 399 B.C., the man championed as the founder of Western philosophy stood before a jury, accused of â€Å"corrupting the young,† â€Å"not believing in the gods† of Athens, and believing â€Å"in other daimonia that are novel† (Plato, â€Å"Apology† 24b). 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