Apologia of Socrates
Socrates’ “Defense Speech”
• Why is he on trial?
• Who/what is Socrates?
• Why did people admire/condemn him?
Historical context
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Peloponnesian War—Athens defeated in 405 BC,
Sparta imposes tyrannical rulers (leaders include a
companion of Socrates), Democracy restored in 403
(leaders include a companion of Socrates)
Socrates apparently accused in part because of his
reputation as a “sophist” or critic of traditional religion,
morality and law (“old charges”). It was a political trial:
he was being made an example of, to suppress
criticism of the ‘civic order.’
At the time, there was no clear conception of
“philosophy”—it was not sharply distinguished from
“science” or from “sophistry.” Socrates sought, in this
public self-defense, to explain his conception of
philosophy—the idea of “the examined life”
Structure of the Dialogue
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Defense Speech (17a-35d)
– Old charges (17a-20e)
followed by story of his
“mission to Athens” (21a-24b)
– New charges (24b-28b) in
which he examines his
accuser, followed by
account of his way of life
(28b-35d)
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Counterpenalty (35d-38c)
 Final words (38e-42b)
Questions re: the “old charges”
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Claims he does not:
– “investigate things under earth or in
heavens” – not an ‘atheistic scientist’ what
does he do instead? Can he do that,
without the other?
– “make the worse argument stronger” – not
a ‘sophist’ why might someone who sought
to defend the religious or political law claim
otherwise?
– “teach these things to others” – what does
he do instead? Can it be claimed he is a
‘teacher’ (“professor”)?
Socrates’ mission from Apollo: 21a-23b
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With whom and about what does
Socrates pursue his ‘mission’?
 What kind of ‘wisdom’ does he
claim? (vs. others’ claims?)
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Sophistic = ‘experts’ in law, politics,
business, how to attain ‘the good life’:
Socrates says this is counterfeit
Divine= absolute, certain wisdom re: the
good: Socrates doesn’t deny this is real,
but says it is beyond human beings
Craftsmen = have expertise in their
field. Socrates acknowledges this, but
claims they think they have wisdom of
‘the good’ as well
Socratic = knowledge that you do not
know the good in the way the Gods do
(or might)
How plausible is his claim to be a
“servant of the God,”i.e. ‘truly
religious” (cf. Euthyphro 13d)
Questions re: the “new charges”: 24b-28b
Note: a Socratic examination and refutation of
Meletus – his accuser
Claims he cannot
 be guilty of “corrupting the mind’s of the
young” since “no one willingly does harm” (25e)
– His basis for this claim? Implications?
 be guilty of “disbelieving in the city’s gods” if
he believes in “spiritual things” (27c)
– What does Meletus assert, on the basis of
which Socrates refutes him? (26e)
– Socrates’ response to the official charges?
Questions re: his way of life
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What Greek hero does he
compare himself to? How is
he alike and different? (28bc)
 Claims he “knows” he must
never do wrong (29b) and
“care for his ‘soul’ because
virtue and truth are more
important than wealth and
status (29e) – contradiction?
 He says “the good man
can’t be harmed” (30d, 41d) What does this mean? Do
you agree?
What is philosophy?
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Abstract, impractical 
speculation?
Rooted in “wonder”
re: nature of things?
Skeptical, destructive
criticism of religion,
traditional values?
Wisdom itself?
Essential to “human
life”?
PERIPETEIA
Socrates: “If I tell you [I cannot
stop philosophizing] because it
would be disobedience to a divine
command, you will not believe me,
and think that I am being ironical;
and if I say instead that I do this
because it is the greatest good for
man to converse daily about
virtue, and all that concerning
which you hear me examining
myself and others, and that the
unexamined life is not worth living
for a human being - you are still
less likely to believe me. And yet
what I say is true, although a thing
of which it is hard for me to
persuade you.” (38ab)
The Apology and Tragedy
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Tragic hero lacks
self-knowledge
 His own virtues
drive him to act/
discover the truth
 Peripety: “You are
the guilty party!”
 Suffering at his own
hands
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Socrates knows
what does not know
 His own virtues
drive him to atct/
discover the truth
 “Are YOU living an
examined life?
 Suffering at their
hands
2 aspects to “the examined life”
Philosophical inquiry
 Knowledge of
ignorance (no
certainty)
 Commitment to
search/find ‘the
good’ and best
reasons for belief
Moral practice
 Moral principles
– “Never do wrong”
– “Seek virtue & truth”
– “Care for the ‘soul’”
(psyche = conscience)
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“Good man can’t be
harmed” = ?
“An unexamined life is not worth living”
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Claims a “worthwhile
life” implies “examined
life”: WL EL
EL = life engaged* in
critical moral evaluation
– Beliefs
– Actions
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WL  EL  CME
Is this true?
*need not be all the time
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Pro: what do we learn
from the Euthyphro and
Crito that might support
this claim?
Con: what reasons
might someone give for
thinking it is possible to
live a “worthwhile life”
(i.e. not waste one’s
life) without CME?
Final Words
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What did he prophesy
to those who found
him guilty?
 What did he claim re:
his “divine sign”?
 Argument that “death
may be a blessing, if
it is endless sleep, or
if there is an afterlife,
in which we may
converse with wise
and good men.”
Paradoxes in the Apology
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Why doesn’t Socrates make a “better” speech
(one that would get him free)?
Why does Socrates think “no man willingly
does wrong”(25e)?
Does Socrates “not know” the highest things
(21d), or does he “know” them (29b-e)?
Why does Socrates say “the good man can’t
be harmed” (30d, 41d)? What does he mean?
Why does Socrates say “the unexamined life
is not worth living for a human being”(38a)?
Questions for readers
Is Socrates = a danger to the peace
and security of Athens, or a godsend?
 Is Socrates = guilty of legal charges vs.
him? Evidence pro and con?
 Is Socratic philosophy = guilty of
charge that it is an enemy to the Greek
religion, or religion in general, or is it a
friend and natural companion?
 What is the “examined life”? Is
Socrates right, that “the unexamined
life is not worth living”?
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