POLS 2900 Lecture : The Apology An overview of Socrates' Apology from Plato's "The Trial and Death of Socrates"
16 Oct 2011
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Population of athens: 300,000: 1/3 of the population were slaves and metics. Mostly merchants: slaves, metics and women had no political rights. Because of role of slaves/metics/women, citizens could focus on politics: women. Heard civil and criminal cases: one-sided. Other than interpretation from socrates response: socrates charged on piety, found guilty, sentenced to death. Socrates accepts verdict rather than subject himself to mercy of the jury: learn about the kind of person that socrates is. Person in the face of death: learn what socrates thinks about the role of a philosopher, not about the defense of socrates. Life spent in the pursuit of wisdom. Ask questions: check/challenge and test answers, to see if coherent picture emerges, character of socrates contrasted with accusers and jurymen. Attitude toward philosophy: learn about the dangers of philosophy. Leads citizens to question status quo: socrates wants to unsettle people"s settled convictions, socrates character. One of four cardinal virtues of ancient greece.
