The Apology chronicles a speech given by Socrates in response to charges brought against him in Athens Greece. Socrates was brought to trial around 399 BC for a myriad of charges. This hearing was recorded by his student Plato and is believed to be the most accurate, even though Xenophon's Memorabilia gives an account of the proceedings. The modern day connotation of the word apology, derived from the Greek word apologia is defined as “a regretful acknowledgement of an offence or failure” (Oxford Dictionaries). Where this definition is concerned, and with careful analysis, one cannot refer to this hearing as an apology. However the Greek word “apologia” which loosely means defense, is an apt description of what Socrates did as it relates to his charges. This can be said as the overall tone of the speech would denote a feeling of ridicule rather than remorse. The main theme in the Apology is that an individual should never go against his system of beliefs, regardless of the penalty.
Socrates was faced with four major charges; impiety, corruption of the youth, studying things in the heavens and below the earth and making the worst argument into the stronger one. Impiety can be referred to as godlessness or ungodliness. Socrates was accused primarily of not believing in the gods of the state. An analysis of Socrates defense to this charge would imply that he was indeed guilty of this charge. In Athenian law citizens were expected to believe in the gods of the nation, failure to do was deemed crime. As it relates to his testimony Socrates admits that he believes in some higher being that governs his conscience hereby affirming that he does believe in a God, but not affirming that he believes in the Gods of Athenians.
On the other hand, we see where Socrates stated that after Chaerephon (his deceased friend) spoke to the oracle he was told that he (Socrates) was the wisest man. On hearing this Socrates went on a mission to prove the God wrong even though he stated: “and yet he is a god and cannot lie; that would be against his nature” (Apology, Para. 6). One can argue then that if Socrates truly believed in the gods of the Athenians – as far as belief goes trusting them and acknowledging their almighty power, he would have believed him instead of setting out on a mission to refute his claims or to prove the God wrong. This he openly admitted to doing when he stated that he went on to question supposedly wise men in an attempt to find one wiser than himself to prove the God wrong. So as it relates to Socrates belief in Athenians gods one can say that he was guilty, based purely on Athenian laws.
Socrates goes even further to state “but I am in utter poverty by reason of my devotion to the God” (Apology, Para.10). This statement at first glance may suggest that Socrates was stating that his service to god had made him poor. However, careful analysis shows that he was merely referring to his preoccupation with his quest to prove the god wrong as it relates to him being the wisest man. It would be remiss of me not to mention that Mellitus accused him of being an atheist this claim, however, cannot be supported as Socrates made many statements that do prove his belief in a supreme being. Throughout his trial, he made many references to god even at the end of the trial he stated that if he did die only God would know which of them were the better. (Apology, Para.42) This attests to his belief in a supreme power.
Next is the accusation that Socrates was studying things in the heavens and below the earth. Socrates was born into an era that placed all matters in the hands of the “gods’ from everyday trivial matters to those that were beyond explanation. One can glean from the account of the apology that Socrates was concerned about the nature of man as it relates to goodness, virtue, morals, ethics, and so on. It cannot be said through analysis of this account that Socrates was interested in the ‘mechanics’ of nature. In his defense, Socrates noted that the accusations of him studying matters of this nature arose out the Aristophanes comical depiction of him which holds no merit. He further openly confesses to knowing nothing in that area and having little interest in it. He also invites a member of the audience to refute this claim if he lies. (Apology, Para. 4-5) This statement made solidifies the fact that his primary concern was not about how nature worked but rather the morality of men. Throughout his trial, he also states that he has no knowledge in the area and applauds those who do. Hence, as it relates to this charge, Socrates was not guilty.
Socrates was also charged with making the worse argument into the stronger (better) argument. In the time of Socrates, a group of men known as sophistēs or Sophists described as a “new type of intellectuals, professional educators who toured the Greek world offering instruction in a wide range of subjects, with particular emphasis on skill in public speaking and the successful conduct of life”. (The Sophists, Para.1) These men were distrusted by the people of Athens due to their orating and persuasive skills. Socrates was being likened to these men because of his orating skills. Socrates had made many enemies in his quest to refute the oracles claim of his wisdom. He went about questioning influential men and demeaned their wisdom after their conversations. We can assume, based on this report that the Athenians did not respond well to an individual with an ‘inquisitive mind’, and for this, he was being punished. Socrates was an orator and this can be supported through an analysis of the Apology. It was this ability to speak well and ask questions that men such as the artisans and the poets could not answer that did not sit well with them. Hence, the charge was laid. Based on the responses given by Socrates and the lack of evidence to support this claim; Socrates was innocent.
Socrates was also charged with corrupting the youth of Athens. Meletus has claimed that only Socrates was guilty of corrupting the young. This is a highly illogical claim as within a city of so many that Socrates only was capable of this. Socrates admits to questioning the so-called wise men of Athens. He also admits that the young men enjoy listening to his questioning of the wise men. However, he also carefully noted that they do so of their own will. ( Apology, para.11). Socrates at many points throughout his speech states that he “I neither know nor think that I know” (Apology, para.7) furthermore Socrates does not profess to be a teacher; hence, those who listen to his sayings do so of their own will. Socrates also admits to Meletus through his questioning of him that if he had corrupted the youth he did so unintentionally and for that he should have been advised and not punished. There lies no fact in the account that ardently supports that Socrates has corrupted the youth. In essence, it is unreasonable and unjustified to blame one individual for the corruption of an entire age group. That being said, Socrates was not guilty of this charge.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy describes Socrates as “the sort of person who provoked in those who knew him, or knew of him, a profound response, and he inspired many of those who came under his influence to write about him” (Plato, para.4.1) it was because of this persona of Socrates that made his accusers feel threatened by his teachings and his inquisitive mind. This new age of thinking did not conform to the norms of Athenian society. Hence, they made up charges that were unjustified for the most part against him. Socrates was used as an example to warn others that acting outside of social norms would not be tolerated. Though I believe Socrates was guilty of not believing in the gods of the Athenians he was not guilty of the other charges. It can be said that though Socrates was judged based on Athenian laws, his guilt was not proven impeccably and such was unjust. Socrates must be admired for his unyielding belief in his philosophy to the end.
Works cited
Plato.“Apology”. Trans. B. Jowett. The Internet Classics Archive. 1998-2009. Web. 7 May 2016. < http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html>
“Apology”. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford Dictionaries. 2016. Web.7 May 2016. <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/apology>
Taylor, C.C.W. and Lee, Mi-Kyoung, "The Sophists", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2015 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2015/entries/sophists/>.
Kraut, Richard, "Plato", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2015 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
<http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2015/entries/plato/>.
