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Apology, early dialogue by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, purporting to represent the speech given by Socrates, Plato’s teacher, at the former’s trial in Athens in 399 bce in response to accusations of impiety and corrupting the young.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Apology of Socrates, by Plato, is a Socratic dialogue in three parts that cover the Trial of Socrates (399 BC): (i) the legal self-defence of Socrates, (ii) the verdict of the jury, and (iii) the sentence of the court.
In Plato’s Apology, the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates finds himself on trial for charges of impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens. The narrative, set in 399 BCE, narrates Socrates’ defense speech delivered in front of a jury of Athenian citizens.
Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates' speech, however, is by no means an "apology" in our modern understanding of the word.
When I do not know whether death is a good or an evil, why should I propose a penalty which would certainly be an evil? Shall I say imprisonment? And why should I live in prison, and be the slave of the magistrates of the year - of the Eleven? Or shall the penalty be a fine, and imprisonment until the fine is paid? There is the same objection.
Oct 21, 2024 · In fact, Plato’s motives in writing the Apology are likely to have been complex. One of them, no doubt, was to defend and praise Socrates by making use of many of the points Socrates himself had offered in his speech.
Jan 27, 2019 · Plato's Apology is one of the most famous and admired texts in world literature. It offers what many scholars believe is a fairly reliable account of what the Athenian philosopher Socrates (469 BCE - 399 BCE) said in court on the day that he was tried and condemned to death on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth.
