ipl-logo

The Apology Of Plato: What Was Socrates Saying?

911 Words4 Pages

A:
III. The Apology of Plato: what was Socrates saying?
A comparison and contrast of the rhetorical strategy of Socrates in FS 11, Plato’s Apology to the rhetorical strategy of the speaker in the Athenian law court speech you read for your report. Find all you can that is unconventional and counter conventional in what Socrates says.

What is perhaps most unconventional about this rhetoric style defense is that it is exactly that, a defense –not an apology. It does not mean an "apology" by our current, English understanding of the word. The name of the dialogue derives from the Greek "apologia," which translates to “defense”, or a speech made in defense. Plato’s The Apology accounts for Socrates’ defense at a trial which he is charged with not recognizing the Gods, therefore creating new deities and corrupting the minds of the youth in Athens. …show more content…

Pliny the Younger, the Roman governor of Bithynia et Pontus wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan around 112 AD and asked for counsel on dealing with Christians. The letter details an account of how Pliny conducted trials of suspected Christians who appeared before him as a result of anonymous accusations and asks for the Emperor 's guidance on how they should be treated

Saints Perpetua and Felicity are Christian martyrs of the 3rd century. Vibia Perpetua was a married noblewoman, said to have been 22 years old at the time of her death, and mother of an infant she was nursing. The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas is the prison diary of a young woman martyred in Carthage in 202 or 203 CE. The beginning and ending are related by a narrator; the central text contains the words of Perpetua herself. Felicitas, a slave imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, was martyred with her. They were put to death along with others at Carthage in the Roman province of

Show More
Related

  • Lincoln And Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About Persuasion

    257 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us about Persuasion by Jay Heinrichs portray the basics of rhetoric in a modest and clear way. The author initiates the first chapter of his book with a short and simple summary of where rhetoric originated so that the audience can picture the time frame. He points out that it all started back in prehistoric Greece, describes its effect on Roman storytellers, and discusses the importance of rhetoric associated to William Shakespeare. Henrichs explains his views of taking rhetoric to a new level and bringing it back for all the new writers and readers of the upcoming generation, due to it being a low perspective in society. He chose to have his first chapter, “Open

    Read More

  • The Corruption Of Socrates In Plato's The Apology

    478 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Apology written by Plato is about the speech of Socrates at the trial in which he is accused and chargef for “corrupting the young” and “not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonian that are novel.” The meaning of the Apology gets from the Greek "apologia," which interprets as to defend, or a speech made to defend oneself. Generally, Socrates talks in a conversational way. He clarifies that he has no involvement with the law courts.

    Read More

  • Peloponnesian War Rhetoric

    1304 Words  | 6 Pages

    Pericles’s speeches use the rhetorical devices of multiple examples and rhetorical question. To convince the Athenians to wage war against the Peloponnesians, Pericles goes to length explaining Athens’s great strength. He enlightens:

    Read More

  • Socrates A Good Statesman Analysis

    2334 Words  | 10 Pages

    The following statement by Gorgias, for instance, is maintained throughout the dialogue: "The rhetorician is capable of speaking against everyone else and on any subject you please in such a way that he can win over vast multitudes to anything, in a word, that he may desire." Plato, p. 16 Socrates addresses this in the discussion with Polus about happiness and proves again the injustice of rhetoricians. The men conclude together that the happiest man is without vice, "the greatest of evils," Plato p. 45, and the "…second happiest… is he who gets rid of it… And he… is the man who is rebuked and admonished and brought to justice."

    Read More

  • Comparing Plato's Rhetoric And Gorgias

    1193 Words  | 5 Pages

    In an era, which human civilization maintained no disposition of records, and had to consider the words that spout off from inhabitants of their local community as the honesty of the purest form. The cultivation of rhetoric has led individuals to succeed in finessing through the political ranks, and order sustained in the final periods of the Before Common Era. Rhetoric is an inducement that focuses purely on belief and not reality and truthfulness, and known as the “authentic art of persuasiveness” to the sophists (Gorgias and his underlings), while dialectic is distinguished as the identical to philosophers such as Plato and Socrates. In Plato’s dialogue, Gorgias, Socrates seeks to unearth the true meaning behind rhetoric by engaging in discourse with Gorgias to analyze his views, more so into exposing the inexperience within his pretentious convictions, and immoral justifications that may occur upon the teaching of rhetoric within society. Socrates uses short interrogations on Gorgias to prove his

    Read More

  • Evaluating Socrates Claim In The Apology

    835 Words  | 4 Pages

    Anish Yonjan Philosophy 1301-73426 Prof. Marcos Arandia Feb. 19, 2017 Explain and evaluate Socrates' claim in the Apology that "the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being," and briefly analyze and discuss the particular method he uses to discover the truth (i.e., dialectics or the Socratic Method), using at least two examples from Plato's Euthyphro and/or Apology. Do you agree that a human being cannot live a fully satisfying life if he or she remains ignorant, like the slavish prisoners in Plato's cave? Why or why not? In the Plato’s Apology, Socrates claims that the “unexamined life is not worth living for a human being”.

    Read More

  • Analyzing Plato's Apology

    313 Words  | 2 Pages

    Death is one of the most discussed topic that has always risen a lot of doubt and concerns . Many philosophers and writers, through the centuries, have tried to find a definition or a reason for this mysterious and inevitable event. Analyzing Plato’s Apology, he seemed to have a positive view about death. He claimed that death is a “state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness”; in fact he compared death with the act of sleeping. But since death is more deep and irreversible, humans cannot be bothering by dreams or thought while they’re died as could happen while they’re sleeping.

    Read More

  • Wisdom In Plato's Apology

    298 Words  | 2 Pages

    For this week's journal entry, I would like to bring up the idea of "wisdom" in reference to Plato's Apology.  Personally, I find that the way in which Socrates defends is wisdom is admirable, and although it leads to the verdict of him being killed, I think that this decision and the reaction by Socrates helps define wisdom. Socrates, in essence, says that he does not fear death because he is wise.  No one knows what death is -- perhaps it may be the best thing a person gets to experience. However, a person that is unwise would approach death into thinking that it is the worst thing that can happen in life.

    Read More

  • How Did Socrates Prepare For Death In Plato's Apology

    786 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Plato’s Phaedo, Socrates is preparing for his death following his trial in Plato’s Apology. He engages in an discussion with Simmias and Cebes about why death should be important to all philosophers. When he begins this discussion, Socrates compares the relationship between the soul and body to a person being imprisoned. He builds upon this analogy as he identifies the soul and body as two separate entities. The soul being divine, immortal, and pure, while the body is compository, susceptible to death, and impure.

    Read More

  • Martyrdom Of St. Perpetua And Felicity Analysis

    623 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Martyrdom of St. Perpetua and Felicity, which is a story about Perpetua’s trial due to her beliefs in Christianity, was written in the year 203 by three different authors, Perpetua, Satururs, and an unknown narrator. Perpetua wrote her part of the story while she was in prison, perhaps to give others the strength to stand up for what they believe in. Perpetua lived in Carthage under the Roman Empire, where the paterfamilias meant everything. The paterfamilias is the father of the household; they have the ability to take away the life of their children which means they have complete control over them. However, in The Martyrdom of St. Perpetua and Felicity, Perpetua disobeys her father.

    Read More

  • Plato's Defense Of Corruption In The Apology By Socrates

    961 Words  | 4 Pages

    Introduction The Apology was written by Plato, and relates Socrates’ defense at his trial on charges of corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates argues that he is innocent of both charges. Plato reports the contents of three speeches delivered by Socrates in his own protection in court which has been arranged over him by the Athenian democrats and has terminated in the death sentence to the great philosopher. The word "apology" in a literal translation means "justification". Plato's purpose when writing "Apology" was to acquit posthumously Socrates from false accusation.

    Read More

  • Gorgias And Phaedrus Rhetoric Essay

    1506 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Gorgias dialogue begins with Socrates asking if a discussion with Gorgias would be possible. Socrates makes it clear from the beginning of the dialogue that he would prefer no long display speeches to be made if Gorgias is going to participate in discussion, but asks specifically for only short answers to be given to the questions he asks. James Nichols, translator of the two dialogues argues in his Gorgias essay that “the brevity of the answers about what rhetoric is causes the first definitions to be too broad or universal or inclusive; the definition is narrowed down through Socrates' questioning and, in that sense, under his guidance.” Using this method allows Socrates to arrive at the conclusions necessary to convince Gorgias of what rhetoric is and to understand what he is

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of Socrates 'Apology'

    1314 Words  | 6 Pages

    Socrates was a greek philosopher who found himself in trouble with his fellow citizens and court for standing his grounds on his new found beliefs from his studies about philosophical virtue, justice, and truth. In “Apology” written by Plato, Socrates defended himself in trial, not with the goal of escaping the death sentence, but with the goal of doing the right thing and standing for his beliefs. With this mindset, Socrates had no intention of kissing up to the Athenians to save his life. Many will argue that Socrates’ speech was not very effective because he did not fight for his life, he just accepted the death sentence that he was punished with. In his speech he said, “But now it’s time to leave, time for me to die and for you to live.”

    Read More

  • Comparing Plato's Apology And Allegory Of The Cave

    1373 Words  | 6 Pages

    In analyzing great Philosophical literature, few works are as famous as Plato's Apology and Allegory of the Cave. Although lesser known to the uninitiated to the world of Philosophy, but certainly no less famous or important, is Voltaire's Good Brahman. At first glance, each of these works appears quite different and only have the commonality of being older Philosophy texts. However, upon closer examination we find that they have more in common, despite their less obvious differences. In the following paragraphs, we will seek to explain each work individually and then compare and contrast both Philosopher's works.

    Read More

  • The Apology: The Importance Of Plato's Contribution To Meaned Today

    747 Words  | 3 Pages

    If we fail to acknowledge our hubris at the highest level, all of our society will suffer. We have given up our ability to evaluate life in favor of something far easier. For example, we choose to elect government officials who then act as tokens of our own values. This is the case in all republics be it Ancient Greece or the United States. By doing this we secure our fate and deny life itself.

    Read More

More about The Apology Of Plato: What Was Socrates Saying?

Open Document