Transcript Questions for Plato`s Apology

Plato’s Apology
Introduction and Questions
Introduction
apologia = a defence speech
Multiple differing apologies
Reliability?
 3 parts (no prosecution speech recorded)
Initial defence
Penalty bid
Final address
Section A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What does Socrates claim he is going to rely on in speaking and
what does he say he is not good at? On the basis of other sources,
are the accusers right to warn the audience of Socrates’ rhetoric?
What does Socrates mean by distinguishing ‘earliest’ and ‘later’
charges and accusers?
What negative influence in particular does Socrates single out, and
why (several reasons)?
What ‘charge’ does Socrates imagine that his earliest critics might
have made against him - compare this with the real charge quoted
by Socrates at the top of p.46.
What does Socrates deny at 19d, and whom does he call as
witnesses?
Section B
1. What does Socrates deny at 19e? Why
is this denial important to his case?
2. See note 14: look up references in
Clouds given there and jot them down.
What do they imply about Socrates?
3. In what way is Socrates negative about
sophists?
Section C
1. What did Chaerephon ask Apollo?
2. How did Socrates respond to the reply?
3. In what way did Socrates realize that
Apollo was correct?
4. What reaction did Socrates receive from
the people he asked?
5. What is Socrates’ opinion of other people
in respect of knowledge?
Section D
1. What does Socrates conclude about
wisdom as a result of his enquiries?
2. In what way might Socrates claim that he
is actually serving the state and acting
piously by his enquiries?
3. How does this claim contrast with the
reactions of the people he questions?
4. What sort of people does Socrates claim
listen to him? What is their reaction?
Section E
1. Who are the ‘latest’ accusers of
Socrates?
2. Read the opening page of the Euthyphro
(p.7) and notes 33-35. Note relevant
information about the accusers.
3. Consider the effect of this opening
preamble. Do you think that the jury
would be more or less likely to convict
Socrates because of it?
Section F
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
How has Socrates revised the charge (see note 37), and how might his
revision help his argument (have a look at the very start of the next
section)?
Of what does Socrates accuse Meletus?
Explain in your own words how Socrates’ method of arguing manages to
get Meletus to agree to an opinion (that the whole population of Athens
has a good effect on the young) that it is unlikely he would have claimed
otherwise.
In what way is the analogy of horses inappropriate in the case of the old
style Athenian education system?
Socrates gets Meletus to agree that he must either unintentionally harm
those around him or that he doesn’t have a bad influence. Can you think
of a situation in which neither might be true of Socrates? If so how has
Socrates ensured Meletus cannot claim such a situation?
List all the ‘sophistic’ tricks Socrates uses in this section of the speech.
Section G
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What does Meletus really mean when he claims that
Socrates ‘disbelieves in gods altogether’?
What does this particular claim of Meletus’ allow Socrates
to conclude?
Briefly describe (using note 44 to help) the beliefs of
Anaxagoras. Why was he important to the History of
Athens?
What charge is Socrates still open to at the close of section
G? Has his argument really proved anything? Is this charge a
serious one for Athenians?
Interestingly, what does Socrates NOT mention at this point
that might be relevant?
Section H
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
To what does S. attribute his downfall here? Write a short
quote that shows this point.
(Using notes 50 & 51) To whom does S. compare himself?
Why does he make this comparison?
To what other incident in his own life does S. compare his
obedience to duty in his philosophical life?
Why in S.’ opinion should we not fear death?
Compare what Socrates says about the task the god has
given him (30a) to what S. claimed the oracle said (21a).
What does S. claim his message to the young is? How would
his prosecutors dispute this?
Section I
1.
2.
3.
4.
look back at the end of the previous section. What do the jury
seem to be protesting about at the start of this section?
On what grounds does S. claim that Meletus and Anytus can
do him no harm? (30d) Was this a usual idea in Ancient
Greece?
What does S. claim about his importance to Athens? What
metaphor does he give? (31a) Explain this metaphor. Is it a
good metaphor?
What evidence does S. give for the seriousness of his
devotion to his mission? (31b & c) Does this ring true? Use
another source to support your answer.
Section
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Why hasn’t S. been involved in public affairs? Why would
that be a problem for Athenians?
Why is the mention of his daimon here a bad idea - look back
at Euthyphro 3b (p.8) for help.
What does S. imply about the democratic system here (31e)?
What example from his life does S. use at 32b to point out
how he opposed the democratic system (use note 57)?
What other act of resistance to illegal government acts does
S. mention in the final paragraph? Was this against the
democracy?
If you were the jurors what would you be thinking by the end
of this section?
Section K
1. In bullet-point form, list what Socrates
claims he does/doesn’t do in his life.
2. Can we detect anything of the political
charge in 33a&b that Xenophon makes
explicit in his memorabilia?
3. What point does S. make in mentioning the
people he does in 33e? How does this help
his argument?
Section L
1.
2.
3.
4.
Was does Socrates refuse to do (34c)? Cross-reference with
another example in Apology of S. refusing to ‘play the
game’.
Give the three reasons Socrates refuses.
Not out of perversity, gentlemen, nor out of contempt for you.
consider this claim.The jury does not sit to dispense justice
as a favour, but to decide where justice lies.
Is it perverse of S. to refuse to accept the true nature of the
Athenian legal system (see also Hermogenes’ question at the
opening of Xenophon’s Apology)?
Section M
1. What is S. not surprised at? What is he surprised at
(use note 71)?
2. What does S. propose as a counter-penalty? What
does he give as his reason for doing this?
3. What was expected of S. in proposing a counterpenalty? What similar case do we have where this
might have happened?
4. How does S. shift his ground in this passage? Does
this contradict his earlier claim at 37b (So being
convinced…)?
Section N
S. addresses those who voted for his execution first. He
makes three main points to them:
1. How does he claim they have disadvantaged themselves in
38c?
2. In the next paragraph what does S. claim he has avoided
compared with those he is talking to?
3. What vengeance does S. predict? Why is this slightly odd?
S. then addresses those who voted to acquit him:
1. What two arguments does S. give for thinking death to be a
blessing (40a-41c)? Give details.
2. What final task does S. give them?