Dialogues of Plato - Apology

The Apology is about Socrates trial in 399 B.C. against citizens of Athens. He was tried for corrupting the young Athenians and worshiping his own god instead of the god recognized by the state. The Apology is told from Plato's account of Socrates defense in the trial. Socrates "represented a threat to the new regime" by speaking for the voice of the wise and nonconformity rather than the voice of conformity. This threat was masked with the accused charges (2). Socrates was found guilty. He did not "refute" the charges, but tried to show the court the hostility Meletus, the poet, and others felt towards him and his philosophical mission of searching into himself and in others.

The Apology begins with Socrates explanation of his inquisition. Socrates believed himself to be somewhat like a translator for God; someone who could relay wisdom and words of God to people in order to improve their lives and personalities. While on his inquisition he was faced with many politicians, poets, and rhetoricians who were knowledgeable but not necessarily wise. Socrates offerings and words of wisdom alienated these men and evoked feelings of hatred against him. He was brought to court because of this hatred but the people of Athens masked the reason by accusing Socrates of inventing his own God and trying to get people to believe his ways, which they believe, corrupted the youth of Athens.

While reading the Apology I felt sorry for Socrates. I felt that he couldn't help that his mission in life was to inform others of their wrong-doings. He didn't choose his role as a gadfly; it was chosen for him and he didn't turn away. Socrates said, "...a man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying; he ought to only consider whether in doing anything he is doing right or wrong--acting the part of a good man or bad" (20). Socrates wasn't afraid of his punishment or facing death; he had mentioned many times that he didn't know whether death was evil or good. He believed that a person must pay more attention to their actions in the present then to worry about life after death. I agree with Socrates and his way of thinking. There are going to always be people criticizing, demanding, and requesting things from you; if you know yourself and believe that you are living to your greatest potential and living good, those people who criticize, demand and request are those who need to take a look into their own lives and find themselves.