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A review by alok_pandey
Apology by Plato
2.0
Truth be told I was underwhelmed by this classic. The hype created around Western philosophical works of antiquity was one of the probable reasons. But the biggest factor was that I was, throughout the length of the book, feeling constantly that it was something ‘written by Plato’(Socrates’ disciple) and not ‘spoken by Socrates’ himself.
Was Plato a bad writer? I hope not. He has written other classics like The Republic(which I have read in parts only). Seems like the motivation of writing Apology might have been different from that of Plato’s other works on political philosophy. There were times when in his attempt to absolve Socrates of the charges put on him by the Greek prosecutors and draw out his point of view, Plato ended up depicting him as a cynical and sarcastic man, a far cry from someone who was so self-assured that he didn’t mind drinking hemlock for his convictions.
I was hoping to know Socrates through ‘his apology’. I am not sure I could.
Was Plato a bad writer? I hope not. He has written other classics like The Republic(which I have read in parts only). Seems like the motivation of writing Apology might have been different from that of Plato’s other works on political philosophy. There were times when in his attempt to absolve Socrates of the charges put on him by the Greek prosecutors and draw out his point of view, Plato ended up depicting him as a cynical and sarcastic man, a far cry from someone who was so self-assured that he didn’t mind drinking hemlock for his convictions.
I was hoping to know Socrates through ‘his apology’. I am not sure I could.