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The Apology Analysis

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The Apology Reflection In The Apology by Plato, Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher, is put on trial for “corrupting the youth of Athens” and charged with heresy against the Greek gods. In this paper, I will argue that Socrates should have played a better game of politics with the jury and Meletus, as doing so could possibly have saved his life. However, I do believe that, regardless of his defense, the Athenian jury would still have found him guilty, for this would be the easiest way to permanently remove Socrates from Athens. For the most part, I believe that they found him guilty simply because he was considered a nuisance around town. To begin, if Socrates had just played nice and taken the jail time, he would’ve been able to go back …show more content…

Meletus was clearly bent on driving home a guilty verdict, so it’s likely that he tipped off the jury. Honestly, how big of a threat to the state of Athens was the seventy year-old Socrates? What kind of sociopolitical damage could one old man do? I believe the answer lies in a fear of change and the unknown. Socrates went around the marketplace and questioned everything he saw, as he believed, “life without this sort of examination is not worth living,” (38a). Did that frighten some people? Maybe. Did it annoy the vast majority of the Athenian acropolis in such a way that they wanted him dead? …show more content…

If Socrates had played Meletus’ game, it would be more likely that he would have received a lesser sentence or perhaps more sympathy. In fact, right after he got out of jail or paid his fine, he could have resumed his questioning and observations of the world around him. However, Socrates then pulls a daring move, saying he wishes to be judged based solely upon his own self and not upon the fact that he has three children (34d). I believe if he had mentioned his children, he would have received a better vote turn-out. Perhaps the men of Athens would have thought of their own children and decided to spare him, but they did the exact opposite upon his

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