Plato's the Apology

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Plato’s The Apology Plato (427-347 BCE) • Member of an aristocratic family in Athens • Had two brothers and a sister • Served in Athens’ army, either during the Peloponnesian War or shortly thereafter • Was one of Socrates’ students • Most of his works are written as dialogues • In 387 BCE he founded the Academy • Aristotle was one of his students Socrates was Plato’s teacher and the main character in The Apology • Apology = means an explanation or defense of one’s views, not an apology • It is Plato’s version of a speech that Socrates made during his trial in 399 BCE • This dialogue was probably Plato’s earliest dialogue but it is unclear when it was written; however, some scholars think it was written perhaps as early as a year or two after the trial • Was Plato present at Socrates’ trial? Yes, but he did not speak More on Socrates • At the time of the trial Socrates is around 70 years old • He is married (to Xanthippe) and has three sons, two of whom are very young • He is a stonemason and farmer by trade • His mother (Phaenerete) was a midwife, his father (Sophroniscus) a stonemason and sculptor • When young, Socrates fought for Athens in several battles; he served as a hoplite Did Socrates write any books? • No, Socrates did not write any books • We only know of him through others’ books or plays • E.g., the playwright Aristophanes’ Clouds (ca 423 BCE) or the historian Xenophon’s Apology of Socrates to the Jury in addition to Plato’s works • Does it matter if we only know of Socrates (or anyone else, for that matter) through others’ accounts? Background information to trial: Key events • The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE): Sparta vs. Athens • Rule of Athens by the 30 Tyrants (404-403 BCE): Plato’s uncle and cousin were two of the tyrants as was Critias, a former pupil of Socrates • Democratic rebellion led by Alcibiades leads to overthrow of the tyrants in 403 BCE Important terms or references in the dialogue • Gadfly = horsefly; an insect that bites livestock and torments them; a person who provokes others into action by criticism • The Oracle at Delphi (aka the Pythian high priestess) = a person who makes prophecies • Slander = false accusation that damages someone’s reputation • Affidavit = written testimony; sworn declaration • Enmity = the state of being hostile and actively opposed to someone Key vocabulary (continued) • Calumnies = false and slanderous statements • Pretense = false or deceptive claim • Inveterate = long-established, unlikely to change • Reproaching = expressing disapproval • Exhorting = strongly encouraging someone to do something • Impudence = impertinent, disrespectful • Acquit = declare innocent.

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