The tragic story of Socrates, namely, his brutal death, as well as his long-time friendship with Plato, remains one of the best-known stories of Ancient Greece. Specifically, the touching tribute that Plato made to his deceased friend by narrating the story of Socrates’ trial and the subsequent death is worth considering as a vital piece of Ancient Greek prose. Although Plato seeks to center Socrates and his tragic fate in his writing, he also incorporates his speculations concerning the nature and essential traits of a true citizen, therefore, acknowledging and lauding some of the most outstanding qualities of Socrates.
However, while pursuing a rather basic goal of examining the circumstances of Socrates’ trial and at the same time, identifying the line between a law-abiding citizen and a rebel, Plato mentions Socrates undertaking quite a number of actions that might seem as strange, at best. For instance, at one point, he starts addressing random strangers in an attempt to prompt a discussion. Though the described behavior might seem as unexpected and uncalled for, Socrates’s actions are justified by his decision to explore the nature of social justice and understand the citizens’ stance on their status and the concept of the state (Plato 89). Specifically, Socrates seems to pursue the goal of determining the extent to which the youth has been corrupted by malicious influences. Specifically, having a rather optimistic image of Athenians, Socrates seeks to prove the Oracle, who views the residents of Athens as highly corrupted and nearly incorrigible, completely wrong. Thus, Socrates established the principal standards for determining the nature of citizenship and the associated qualities in Athenians.
According to Plato’s Apologia, in his pursuit of the truth, Socrates makes tremendous sacrifices and takes steps that would be considered as far too drastic. For instance, Socrates refuses to flee the state to avoid the punishment and instead accepts death, insisting that the truth is worth suffering the death penalty: “The wisest of you men is he who has realized, like Socrates, that in respect of wisdom, he is really worthless” (Plato 52). The described view reflects Socrates’ unwavering stance on the concept of justice and the importance of adhering to the principles that constitute the true idea of citizenship and ethics. Furthermore, the described attitude represents Socrates’ idea of wisdom fully as the ability to retain one’s critical thinking faculties and remain bound to one’s principles even in the face of atrocious injustice. Namely, Plato reflects in his “Apologia” on the specified notion of wisdom as the ability to keep one’s reputation untarnished: “I have gained this reputation, gentlemen, from nothing more or less than a kind of wisdom” (Plato 49). Therefore, Plato emphasizes that Socrates’ ability to recognize objective truth and continue acknowledging it even when more powerful forces were trying to make him change his stance on the subject matter as the embodiment of philosophical wisdom.
The arguments relayed in Plato’s “Apologia” also represent Socrates’ views on the concepts of state, the associated laws, and his notion of citizenship rather accurately. Namely, Socrates’ idea of being a citizen is rooted in abiding by the laws according to which the state functions (Plato 88). In other words, by becoming a citizen of a specific state, one subscribes to complying with its regulations and legal standards, hence Socrates’ acceptance of his fate. Specifically, Plato mentions the following opinion of Socrates’: “Look at it in this way. Suppose that while we were preparing to run away from here (or however one should describe it) the Laws and Constitution of Athens were to come and confront us” (Plato 89). Insisting on the necessity to abide by the laws of the state, Socrates presents the hierarchal structure thereof, where citizens are seen as the essential part of the system. Therefore, while Socrates’ perspective could be debated, it is worth appreciating for its straightforwardness and strong ethical stance.
Despite having been written as an account of the tragic events that transpired at the end of Socrates’ life, specifically, his accusation, the subsequent trial, and the resulting death of the philosopher, Plato also establishes his perspective on the qualities and characteristics of a true citizen, thus, ensuring that Socrates’ name is enshrined into the history of Ancient Greece. The writing must be appreciated not only for its touching tribute to the deceased friend but also for its detailed and nuanced representation of a true citizen and the qualities one must possess to become one. The book provides an insightful commentary on the essence of the state, its properties, structure, and the key factors on which its very existence is dependent. Thus, Plato’s work can be considered the cornerstone for understanding the core principles of his philosophical perspective, as well as his stance on the trial of Socrates. Apart from being a tribute to his deceased friend., his records of the trial and his reflection on its outcomes represent a philosophical discussion that expands beyond the concepts of legal justice and stretches to embrace the crucial qualities of an individual within a state.
Work Cited
Plato. Apology. Translated by Hugh Tredennick. Princeton University Press, 1961.