Plato’s Apology: The Trial of Socrates Socrates in the trial – speaking plainly, daily converse. He is a speaker of the truth, not an accomplished speaker. Socrates’ accusers: 1. Meletus 2. Anytus 3. Lycon Why does he fear the early accusers more than the recent ones? They’re anonymous, they are shadows, rumours brainwashed children of that period are now jurors who will decide his fate, they’re nameless, cannot bring evidence forward. They corrupted mind of jurors. • Children grew hearing that Socrates is a trouble maker, their minds have been infected since they could not ask any acquisitions. • They accepted this truth and now deciding his fate with prejudice against him they developed when they were kids. He cannot do anything about the prejudices. • You cannot argue with phantom, ghosts, cannot address them in a straightforward manner. He fears them the most, they are formidable, because he exposes them for having a reputation of wisdom while they know little, he broke their façade, exposed their flaws hence they may go to any lengths to take vengeance. He exposed people’s ignorance = made himself a lot of enemies. They accused him of being a Sophist, bad reputation during his time, teaching people weak arguments, weak ideas for money. Socrates was not a sophist. This is what the early accusers made them believe. Sophists were doubtful of God. The 500 jurors never got to hear Socrates speak, they’re just brainwashed. Socrates’ Attitude during the trial: • Kind of saying take it easy on me, old man in court for the first time. “I’m a stranger to the court room, treat me kindly” • Tries to appeal to their humanness, the jurors. The story of the oracle (Delphi) – temple of Apollo Oracle is like a messenger, knowledge she has is provided by the gods. The wisdom was unnatural. One of Socrates followers asked the Oracle who is the wisest, is there wiser than Socrates? The God answered no. Socrates was in disbelief, he knew he was unwise. So he questioned people and learns that people have a reputation to be wise, yet they know nothing and pretend to know. They continue this charade of wisdom because they’re reputation is built on it. He questioned craftsmen, politicians, poets In the sight of god: wisdom means nothing, like Socrates, we should not pretend more than we are. True wisdom = not knowing. “Socrates, the gadfly of Athen” He was proud of the fact that he was like a fly, an irritant. Gadfly = horse fly. He believes this type of insect is necessary. He compares himself to the gadfly and the horse that the gadfly bites is Athens. Gods put Socrates as a gadfly to wake Athens up. Rousing, reproaching, scolding is a good thing. People do not want to be questioned, be shammed, have their knowledge punctured. He compares this to as though the person who wakes you up, you’d naturally be mad. Philosophy is dangerous but necessary. Living well is more important than living. Die well is better than to live. W3 C2 – Plato’s Apology A.