- An article on Plato 's work on the same topic is called Apology of Socrates (Plato) .
The defense of Socrates at the trial ( dr. Greek Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους ) is a work of the ancient Greek writer and historian of Athenian descent, general and politician Xenophon . Also found is the name "Apology of Socrates" from the ancient Greek ( Ἀπολογία ) "Apology", which corresponds to the word "Protection", "Defensive speech." It is an important source of biography of Socrates .
Content
Contents
The title “Defense (or“ Defensive Speech “) of Socrates at the Court” (in Greek “Apology”) does not correspond to the content of this essay, since Socrates’s speech is only its middle part: before the speech, Socrates talks with Hermogenes, after the speech - a description of the actions and the words of Socrates at the end of the trial; moreover, the speech is not even the main part of the writings, since the author at the very beginning declares that his goal is to find out the reason for the proud tone of Socrates’s speech at the court: in this way, in the author’s opinion, he wanted to induce the judges to pronounce him a death sentence, since he considered death good for yourself. Therefore, the speech is given only as an illustration of this proud tone.
The work “Defense of Socrates in Judgment” has a lot in common (sometimes almost literally repeated) with the last chapter of “ Memoirs of Socrates ”
Conversation of Socrates with Hermogenes
The work begins with a conversation between Socrates and Hermogenes. To the exhortations of Hermogenes to prepare his defense, Socrates replies that
Twice already I tried to think about the defense, but God opposes me.
In " Memoirs of Socrates, " Xenophon says that thanks to the instructions of his voice, Socrates gave advice to friends, and always these tips were justified. Thus, according to Xenophon, Socrates recognized the gift of prophecy. But the testimony of Plato , says completely different. He tells nothing of any advice to friends. “It started with me since childhood,” says Socrates in Plato’s “Apology,” “there is some kind of voice and, when it comes, it always turns me away from what I intend to do, and never prompts me.”
Don't you find it surprising, ”said Socrates,“ that, and in the opinion of God, I am better off dying? ” Don't you know that so far I have not conceded to anyone the right to say that he lived better than me? I had a consciousness - a feeling extremely pleasant that my whole life was lived godly and fair; thus, I myself was pleased with myself, and found that those around me had the same opinion about me. And now, if my life is still going on, I know that I will have to endure the hardships of old age - I will see worse, hear worse, it will be harder for me to learn new things, I will rather forget what I learned before. If I notice a deterioration in myself and scold myself, what will be my pleasure in life? But perhaps God, by his grace, will give me the opportunity to end my life, not only at the proper moment of life, but also possibly easier.
Socrates Speech at the Court
At the trial, Socrates, instead of the appeal at the time to the mercy of the judges, speaks of the words of the Delphic Pythia to Herefont that "there is no person more independent, fair and reasonable than Socrates." He also denies allegations of blasphemy and corruption of youth.
In Athenian legal proceedings, the processes were divided into “valuable” and “invaluable”. “Invaluable” were those in which the punishment was provided for by applicable laws, and “valuable” were those in which the punishment was imposed by the court. In this case, after the first vote, when the question was decided whether the defendant was guilty, a second vote followed (if the verdict was guilty) regarding the punishment or the fine. Both the prosecutor and the defendant offered punishment, and the latter was unprofitable to impose too little punishment, because then the judges could lean on the side of the punishment proposed by the prosecutor. An example of this we have in the process of Socrates:
When they asked him to impose a fine, he neither appointed him nor allowed his friends, but, on the contrary, even said that to impose a fine on himself was to plead guilty. Then, when his friends wanted to abduct him from prison, he did not agree and, it seems, even laughed at them, asking if they knew a place outside Attica where death would not have access.
According to Plato's “ Apology ”, he proudly says that he deserves not punishment, but the highest honor of ancient Athens - a dinner at the public expense.
Comforting friends. Prediction. Conclusion
In this last part, Socrates comforts his friends.
The one who was ardently loyal to Socrates, but simple-minded, a certain Apollodorus, said: “But it is especially difficult for me, Socrates, that you are sentenced to death unjustly.” Socrates, they say, stroked his head and said: “And it would be more pleasant for you, my dear Apollodorus, to see that I have been sentenced justly than unfairly?” - And at the same time he smiled.
He also makes a come true, according to Xenophon, a prediction about the son of one of his accusers, Anita.
The last and final paragraph refers to the wisdom and nobility of Socrates.