COMPARING PLATO and XENOPHON
Differences in how Socrates responds to the majority finding him guilty.
Plato’s Socrates
- He is not surprised by the outcome (36a)
- He states that the vote against him is actually
not that significant in terms of number
(36b).
- He proposes three punishments as
alternatives to death.
1. A penalty “I deserve.” Socrates points
out that he has done without so many
things in the interest of serving the
people of Athens. He says he wants “free
meals in the Prytaneum” (36d-37a.)
2. He says later that if he had money, then
he’d come up with an amount that he
could pay as a fine. He proposes one
mina, which is a rather considerable
sum of money (38b)
3. Then, he specifically calls on Plato and
says that Plato, Crito, Critoboulus and
Apollodorus tell me to put the penalty at
30 minae, and that they will insure it
(38b)
** This Socrates is willing to take money to buy his
freedom. The fact that he is willing to do this makes
Plato’s account seem less likely, and perhaps
inaccurate?
Xenophon’s Socrates
Differences in how Socrates responds to the sentence of death
Plato’s Socrates
- He addresses those who have convicted
him by warning them that they will
regret this.
- He says that if they would have waited a
bit, he would have died anyway because
he is old (38d).
- He says that he doesn’t regret his
defense because he would rather die
after making this defense than live after
having played up emotions or done
something insincere (39b).
- To those who voted for him, he asks
them to come sit with him for a while
and talk.
- He suggests that death might be a
blessing.
- He offers those who voted to sentence
him to death a sort of redemption if they
stop his sons from doing the unjust
things that the jury has just done.
Xenophon’s Socrates