Scan barcode
athousandgreatbooks's review against another edition
5.0
The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways - I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.
Thus ends Apology, Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates at his trial. Having been accused of "corrupting the youth of Athens, speculating about the heavens above and searching into the earth beneath, and making the worse appear the better cause", Socrates lays out his defence in typical 'Socratic' fashion, by questioning and probing the intentions of the accusers and revealing the ignorance and malice that drives their accusations.
As he systematically dismantles the charges against him, old and new, made by a class of men that hide in the faceless masses, Socrates reveals the true corruption of the statesmen and those in positions of affluence and authority, cocooned in the radical democracy of their time. For they had relinquished their pursuit of virtue and given in to the power and comfort of their office, the accusers clothed their discontent in popular antagonism, charging him with impiety, and moral corruption of the youth.
Knowing full well what his speech might lead to Socrates continues his charge against the accusers, turning their own accusations against them. The man had every chance to bite the bullet and capitulate and save his own skin. But history would have been quite different if he had. All the riches of the world, the long years, and feigning of wisdom would not undo the wrong that he knows is wrong. "For the penalty of unrighteousness is swifter than death."
Socrates was called the wisest of all by the Oracle of Delphi. But Socrates being Socrates, knowing that he didn't know anything, tried to prove the Oracle wrong. That was one argument, he conceded later, he, unfortunately, couldn't refute. O, Socrates, and how you paid the price for it! Willingly and with aplomb.
Thus ends Apology, Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates at his trial. Having been accused of "corrupting the youth of Athens, speculating about the heavens above and searching into the earth beneath, and making the worse appear the better cause", Socrates lays out his defence in typical 'Socratic' fashion, by questioning and probing the intentions of the accusers and revealing the ignorance and malice that drives their accusations.
As he systematically dismantles the charges against him, old and new, made by a class of men that hide in the faceless masses, Socrates reveals the true corruption of the statesmen and those in positions of affluence and authority, cocooned in the radical democracy of their time. For they had relinquished their pursuit of virtue and given in to the power and comfort of their office, the accusers clothed their discontent in popular antagonism, charging him with impiety, and moral corruption of the youth.
Knowing full well what his speech might lead to Socrates continues his charge against the accusers, turning their own accusations against them. The man had every chance to bite the bullet and capitulate and save his own skin. But history would have been quite different if he had. All the riches of the world, the long years, and feigning of wisdom would not undo the wrong that he knows is wrong. "For the penalty of unrighteousness is swifter than death."
Socrates was called the wisest of all by the Oracle of Delphi. But Socrates being Socrates, knowing that he didn't know anything, tried to prove the Oracle wrong. That was one argument, he conceded later, he, unfortunately, couldn't refute. O, Socrates, and how you paid the price for it! Willingly and with aplomb.
afeednazir's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
3.5
mattinthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
Shows up to own death penalty trial to represent himself.
Says they should give him free food for life instead.
Gets sentenced to death.
Tells them their reputation is garbage.
Exits like a boss.
Says they should give him free food for life instead.
Gets sentenced to death.
Tells them their reputation is garbage.
Exits like a boss.