Socrates Claims In His Defense example essay topic

Critical Paper: Plato's Apology In the retelling of his trial by his associate, Plato, entitled "The Apology"; Socrates claims in his defense that he only wishes to do good for the polis. I believe that Socrates was innocent of the accusations that were made against him, but he possessed contempt for the court and displayed that in his conceitedness and these actions led to his death. In his defense, Socrates claims over and again that he is innocent and is not at all wise, .".. for I know that I have no wisdom, small or great". Throughout the rest of his oration he seems to act the opposite as if he is better than every man, and later he even claims that, "At any rate, the world has decided that Socrates is in some way superior to other men". This seems to be his greatest mistake, claiming to be greater than even the jury. Socrates was accused of bringing false gods into the polis and corrupting the youth.

The only false god was himself. For he might have presented himself in such a way to his many followers. These followers were mostly, as he says, wealthy young men with not much to do. This I could imagine is where a good deal of his conceitedness comes from, being almost worshipped be others.

These men followed all of his teachings and practices, including the condescending cross-examinations, which were probably the worst of his acts. Socrates high respect for himself also may have started with the oracle from Delphi, when Chaerephon, .".. asked the oracle to tell him whether there was anyone wiser than I was... answered that there was no man wiser". Thus began Socrates cross-examinations, which I have said, was probably the worst thing he could do. In these, he tested to see how wise so-called wise men were and each and every time he claimed that these men were not wise at all. Socrates went and tested all sorts of men from poets, politicians, and artisans. He claimed that all were inferior to him because they claimed to know much when they knew not much at all.

And that, although he did not know all the tings these men knew, he was still wiser. He went so far as to tell these men what he thought, and even stated all these feelings in the court. This, no doubt, led to his general hatred more than any other act. But I wonder, had anyone ever questioned Socrates?

And on what basis did he judge wisdom? Socrates claimed that a man who thought themselves the wisest were the least, but that is exactly what he was, a man who thought himself the wisest. Maybe he was the type of person to dislike any man who's intellect challenged his own. "Is there not here conceit of knowledge, which is a disgraceful sort of ignorance? And this is the point in which, as I think, I am superior to men in general". Socrates claims to be most all virtuous.

"I tell you that virtue is not given by money, but as from virtue come money and every other good of man... ". . Funny that Socrates also claims to be "in rags". In yet another contradiction, Socrates states that he will not cry and mention the fact that he has family and sons, and beg for an acquittal.

By saying these things that is exactly what he is doing, not begging for an acquittal in the way in which they are used to. He does mention his sons and he insults them more by claiming that if the jury sentences him to death that. ".. punishment far heavier than you have inflicted on me will surely await you". I'm sure the jury was not at all afraid of this threat, and of course they sentenced him to death. He truly believed that his wisdom and behavior were an act of god.

That what he did was god's wishes. I think that Socrates intent was for the good, but he definitely went about his inquiries the wrong way. Telling men that they are not wise does not win any sort of favor with anyone. I don't think Socrates was much too concerned with winning any favor. He was the most concerned, in my belief, with proving to himself that he was the wisest of all men. The things he said and did were by no means deserving of death.

On the side of the jury, it must be understood that a man like this was threatening to the state. He had the devotion of many wealthy young men, claimed he was the greatest, and was accused of believing other things. I'm sure the jury was most concerned with a revolt, a revolution of new ideas led by Socrates. And for this fear they probably hated him the most..