In the Apology, Plato offers his vision of the famous speech by Socrates in which he is trying to defend himself from the unfair charge in corrupting young people’s minds, in not believing in gods of the city, in believing in other divinities, and in turning the worse arguments into more powerful ones and teaching them. The exact statement of the accusation is: “Socrates is guilty of corrupting the young and of not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other new divinities” (Cahn 24b). In his justificatory speech, Socrates states “if you kill the sort of man I say I am, you will not harm me more than yourselves” (Cahn 30c). In the following paper, the meaning of this phrase will be addressed. In addition, Plato’s vision of Socrates’ defense will be discussed. Generally, the evaluation of Plato’s argument in the Apology shows that his logic is rational and fair despite the many efforts that have been made during the centuries to challenge it.
Plato’s version of Socrates’ speech, eternalized in the Apology, is considered to be the first and the most precise among all the other versions by the other authors. Although it is not authoritatively known, it is believed that generally, Plato renders the words of his close friend, Socrates, accurately, but in some cases, when he speaks on behalf of Socrates stating his own opinion. The major part of this work by Plato is the first narration; however, some parts provide a dialogue between Socrates and Meletus. Plato does not show his view on Socrates’ speech directly, but he does so using the book argument’s organization, and in the words that he credits to Socrates. The fact that not all the words by Socrates belong to Socrates (but to Plato) can be supported by the similar works of the other writers. In these works, such statements are absent which proves that their authorship belongs to Plato.
Plato’s position in the Apology is clearly seen. He believes that Socrates is not guilty. The argument that Plato provides is a clear proof of Socrates’ innocence. Plato renders Socrates’ words in which he speaks of his respectful attitude to all the Greek gods and explains that he does not urge the others to forget their beliefs, but he himself is not going to worship those gods because he beliefs it to be the infidelity regarding the Supreme God, the Creator whom Socrates respects beyond everything (Cahn 23c). Plato also explains that Socrates does not corrupt young people’s minds, but, on the contrary, he encourages them to think about everything that is happening around them. According to Socrates, young people should understand that all their fleshly pursuits including the pursuit of pleasure, wellness, and honor are vein pursuits (Cahn 29e). Instead, young men should strive to obtain godly wisdom, the knowledge of truth, and develop the best state of their inner world including their mind and hearts because these values are superior to the goods of honor, pleasure, and wellness. Besides, Plato explains that Socrates is a zealous defender of wisdom and truth, and on this reason, he would never make people believe unworthy things such as weak arguments. Finally, Plato mentions one of the main evidences that Socrates applies his in his justificatory speech: “if you kill the sort of man I say I am, you will not harm me more than yourselves” (Cahn 30c). These words by Socrates mean that if the mighty people of Athens execute him, they will bring more harm to themselves than to Socrates because they will lose the source of enlightenment. Also, Socrates is not afraid of death (Cahn 28c). He shares the position stated by Achilles in Homer’s Iliad that real heroes will be remembered, especially if they die being killed for the truth they are fighting for. Socrates also explains that suffering injustice is much better than doing it because it is shameful and disgraceful. Moreover, people who cause injustice will suffer from injustice themselves because evil attracts evil, and for minor wickedness there is always a greater wickedness.
Critically reflecting on Plato’s argument in the Apology, I should say that I evaluate his efforts to defend his great friend as very successful. It is difficult to oppose his brilliant logic. Plato’s rational judgment easily denies all the accusations against Socrates. First of all, Plato’s explanations in the Apology help see that Socrates does not aim to corrupt the minds of young people. Instead, he purposes to enlighten them, and assists them in seeing the real sense of life. He does not argue against the need to provide for oneself; what he really combats is the spirit of gluttony, greediness, avidity, and covetousness. Socrates realizes that constant pursuit for material riches, honor, and pleasure does not add to young people’s happiness. In contrast, in the end of the day, such people understand that such pursuits are pursuits of emptiness. Material possessions are like birds – tomorrow they will spread their wings, and fly away. However, people who tend to improve their inner world will prosper spiritually, and will definitely have all the things they really need because their inner riches such as wisdom, industriousness, and hard-working spirit assist them in every single situation in which they might appear. Thus, it is evident that Socrates does not corrupt young people’s minds, but he sheds the light of the truth on their lives. Besides, Socrates does not want to make Athenians betray their gods. He never ‘offends’ them disgracing or condemning them. Rather than this, Socrates tries to turn people’s attention to the only true God, the Almighty Creator, and the one of whom Jesus Christ speaks as about his heavenly father. Socrates encourages people to really think about the importance of finding peace with God by doing his will in order to make their lives more meaningful and rewarding. Finally, Socrates is not a trader of cheap sayings, and a manipulator. Truly, he can speak well, but the strength of all of his arguments is not in his ability to manipulate the audience. Instead, he is a wise man able to operate with facts and evidences, and that made his power unbreakable. Because of this power he is sentenced to death and executed as Athenian false teachers manage to find no way to stop him, but to murder him.
Of course, many people may argue (and they do so on a regular basis) that Socrates is a dreamer and his ideas are far away from reality. Such people may say that the only sense for people is to acquire more in the material sphere, not in the spiritual one. They may explain that people’s basic needs are only satisfying their instincts such as the desire for pleasure and authority. However, such people should remember about the examples of millions who died because of their greediness or made multitudes of other people die. People need a healthy balance between the satisfaction of their physical and spiritual needs. Otherwise, people will experience a disaster. Even the example of the ancient Greek civilizations (to which those Athenians belong) proves that. When people became so corrupted that they underwent the crisis of family values, the Greek civilization lost its primary positions in the ancient world to the Roman civilization. The same fate expected the Roman civilization in a few centuries. Nowadays, the Anglo-American world civilization that has succeeded the Roman one, is near its pitfall. American people became corrupted with greediness and materialism, they forgot that their credits should be returned; they initiated multiple wars against different nations. As a result, their financial system was shaken in 2008. Thus, a conclusion can be made that when Socrates speaks about the necessity of perfecting human’s spirit he is speaking of eternal wisdom that can be implemented in any times.
In conclusion, Plato’s argument in the Apology can be evaluated as rational and fair. Plato shows that Socrates is not guilty in all the accusations including infecting young people’s minds, believing in the other God, and manipulating with words. This is supported by the many facts from the reality of those days, and from our modern-day reality as well.
Works Cited
Cahn, Steven. Classics of Western Philosophy, 7th ed., The United States: Hackett Pub Co, 2007. Print.