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Socrates In Plato's 'The Apology'

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Plato’s The Apology depicts the trial of Socrates’ only trial of his life. He is brought before the jury on the charges of corrupting the youth and not worshiping the city gods. Socrates argues not to be proven innocent, but instead he argues for the truth. In the end he is found guilty and the jury sentences him to death, but this does not worry Socrates because he lives a life free of worrying about death. Through Socrates Plato presents many aspects he believes are vital to living a good life and becoming truly wise. The first idea Plato reveals concerns becoming wise. Socrates tells how the Delphi Oracle revealed that he, Socrates, was the wisest man, but he doesn’t believe this. He goes around Athens testing men that he believes to be wiser than himself, but Socrates realizes that his assumptions were wrong, none of the men are as wise. These men have much knowledge in their fields of work or study, but they have become blinded by their pride and because of this they think they have knowledge in fields in which they really do not. Socrates comes to the conclusion that the oracle is right and that he is the wisest man because when he does not know something he realizes this and admits it. Admitting that one does not …show more content…

When Socrates defends himself before the council, the jury asks him why he would live a life that would cause him to be on trial and put his life in jeopardy. He responds that he does not live focused on what will bring him death, but instead he lives focused on bringing honor to his god and doing what is just. He also says that those who fear death are unwise. If they were wise then they would realize they truly do not know if death is good or bad and that fear of it is thinking they have knowledge about it when they really do not. Living life focused on what is honorable and just to one’s god frees a person from being restricted by the fear of

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