Socrates' Apology: A philosophical provocation
Where does one draw the line when suffering because of defending something that is considered to be important? Many people will recoil their defense in order to culminate that suffering. It is toward this attitude that Socrates had such a blistering resentment-so much so that he was willing to give up his own life for his cause. After being formally charged in the Athenian courts for his philosophical teachings and their effects on the people of Athens, Socrates represents himself in front of a jury of hundreds of men. In this representation of himself, he makes clear to the jurors through his pessimistic and sarcastic tone, unorthodox, and rudeness, that he does not take his opportunity to defend himself seriously. Instead of taking his last words to the jurors and using them to convince his innocence, Socrates mocks the courts and attempts to enlighten the minds of all of those present in the jury. It is apparent very early in Socrates' speech, and following throughout, that he owns very little will to defend himself of his charges. He displays a very pessimistic tone in the very beginning of his defense. He states several times that he must make his defense, as it is the law to do so when brought before a jury
Socrates also demonstrated his lack of an attentive defense through the mockery of his prosecutors. On many accounts Socrates attacks Meletus-his chief prosecutor. The earliest of his attacks on Meletus was less obvious. He suggested to the jury that Meletus was a man "who would prosecute somebody at the drop of a hat"-in that Socrates was afraid of another lawsuit brought against him for disrespecting himself in a way (39) (201). Mockery can also be seen throughout Socrates' cross-examination of Meletus. "I shall now try to defend myself against Meletus - high-principled and patriotic as he claims to be..." (45). Socrates' tone as a whole in his interrogation of Meletus was unforgiving and outright pinning. In several instances, Socrates traps Meletus with a series of questions that set him up for further mockery. Socrates exclaims, "Excellent! A generous supply of benefactors." after manipulating Meletus into contradicting himself (46). After mixing up Meletus once again, Socrates, through heavy sarcasm, throws up extreme mockery: "Why, Meletus, are you at your age so much wiser than I at mine? You have discovered that bad people always have a bad effect, and good people a good effect, upon their nearest neighbors..." (48). This list of accounts of Socrates' mockery goes on: "Will the infallible Socrates realize that I am contradicting myself for my own amusement, or shall I succeed in deceiving him and the rest of my audience?" Socrates says pretending to be Meletus (49). Any form of mockery or sarcasm at all in the Athenian courts was considered to be unorthodox and would only have a negative affect on the defender's case. Socrates knew it to be unorthodox, but did so anyway to stand by what he believed in. Socrates, instead, took his opportunity to speak as an opportunity to provoke philosophy upon the members of the jury. Many times, he gave examples of a moralistic lifestyle that all should live by: "He (the god at Delphi) cannot be telling a lie; that would not be right for
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1357
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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