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Apology: Socrates Assignment

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Apology: Socrates Assignment

In Apology, Socrates intent was not to apologize for his ideas and beliefs to the people of Athens, his purpose was to defend his practices by confronting his accusers, which put him on trial. Socrates charges consisted of inventing new deities, not recognizing the states Gods, and corrupting Athens youth minds. Socrates began his trial by speaking of his old accusers and the famous book The Cloud, acknowledging that people disagreed with him in his teachings. He then continued by turning from his old accusers to the current ones, more specifically Meletus. When Socrates calls on to Meletus in order for him to make his claims and explain them to the assembly and the jury, Socrates makes different arguments …show more content…

The purpose behind Socrates cross-examination technique was to inquire and open a discussion based on asking and answering questions, to stimulate deeper thought and critical thinking of ideas discussed to counter the charges and make them seem invalid. The implementation of this cross-examination technique occurs when Socrates asks Meletus, “Tell me, my good sir, who improves our young men?”(Apology 24e). Meletus getting embarrassed in front of the jury by Socrates with the claims and comments like, “You see, Meletus, that you are silent and know not what to say” and simply answers, “The laws,” which was not a good enough answer to counter Socrates claims. At this point Socrates began to change the perspective of the trial with some simple intelligent questions. With the consistent questioning of Socrates, Meletus accepted that members of the assembly were all good influences on the youth, but considering the assembly admits all adult males, he mistakenly claims and admits that the entire population of Athens was a positive influence on the youth, except Socrates. Further elaborating on Meletus the claim, Socrates explains how Meletus is wrong by doing a comparison to horses. Socrates point consists of the idea that in order to improve a horse, a specialized person like a horse-trainer, is the only kind of people that have a positive influence on horses. Therefore comparing such idea to people where not everyone can improve the youth. Socrates finishes that stamen with "you make it perfectly clear that you have never paid the slightest attention to the matters over which you are now indicting me" (Apology

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