#260 - Apology by Plato

Sep 5, 2025

The podcast dives into Socrates' audacious defense during his trial, where he faces charges that challenge his beliefs and integrity. Listeners explore the stark contrasts between Socrates' defiant stance and the societal expectations of his time. The discussion touches on the influence of Aristophanes' satire and how it shaped public perception of Socrates. Additionally, insights into different translations of Plato's 'Apology' reveal deeper layers of meaning in his philosophy. The episode encourages contemplation on truth-telling in civilization.

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INSIGHT

The Divine Sign Versus State Religion

Socrates claims a divine sign that warns him against actions but never commands.
This private, individual connection to the divine threatened civic religious norms.

insights

INSIGHT

Challenge To Produce Corrupted Youth

Socrates challenges accusers to produce corrupted students as witnesses.
He asserts his influence promoted justice, undermining the corruption charge.

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INSIGHT

Death Is Less Fearful Than Injustice

Socrates treats death with indifference, valuing justice above life.
He imagines the afterlife as an opportunity to keep questioning great figures.

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Exploring Sources and Translations of Socrates' Apology

07:40 • 3min

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The Authenticity and Implications of Socratic Defense

10:14 • 14min

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Exploring the Layers of Socratic Philosophy and Historical Context

24:40 • 22min

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Embarking on the Plato Project and Inviting Discussion on Aristotle's Poetics

46:47 • 3min

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Conversations of Socrates

Hugh Tredennick

Robin Waterfield

Xenophon

The Conversations of Socrates, written by Xenophon, offers insights into Socrates' philosophical discussions. Xenophon presents Socrates as a practical moralist focused on everyday ethics and virtue. The work showcases Socrates' method of engaging in conversations to explore moral questions and challenge assumptions. Xenophon's account complements Plato's portrayal, providing a different perspective on Socrates' life and teachings. The Conversations highlight Socrates' emphasis on self-knowledge, moderation, and the pursuit of virtue as essential components of a fulfilling life.

#30872

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Plato: Complete Works

Plato

This volume includes the entire surviving corpus of works attributed to Plato in antiquity. It features outstanding translations by leading scholars, introductory essays by John Cooper and D.S. Hutchinson, meticulous annotation, and a comprehensive index. The collection covers a wide range of philosophical topics, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics, and is presented in a high-quality edition with fine paper and a sturdy cloth binding.

#2713

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

Poetics

Aristotle

In 'Poetics,' Aristotle discusses the different kinds and forms of poetry, including epic, tragedy, comedy, and dithyrambic poetry. He defines poetry as a form of imitation that seeks to represent life through character, emotion, or action. The work is primarily focused on tragedy, where Aristotle analyzes the elements of plot, character, thought, diction, song, and spectacle. He also introduces key concepts such as 'mimêsis' (imitation) and 'katharsis' (the purging of emotions), and defends the art of poetry as a natural human instinct that provides pleasure and understanding through artistic representation.

#50078

Clouds

Aristophanes

Aristophanes' "Clouds" is a comedic play that satirizes Socrates and the intellectual movements of his time. The play presents a caricature of Socrates, portraying him as a sophist who teaches young men to argue fallaciously. While not a historically accurate portrayal, "Clouds" offers a glimpse into the public perception of Socrates and the intellectual climate of ancient Athens. The play's humor and satirical elements provide a contrasting perspective to the more serious philosophical works of Plato and Xenophon. It remains a valuable source for understanding the social and intellectual context of Socrates' life.

#16784

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Last Days of Socrates

Plato

This book is a compilation of four dialogues: *Euthyphro*, *Apology*, *Crito*, and *Phaedo*. These dialogues detail the final days of Socrates, from his trial to his execution. In *Euthyphro*, Socrates discusses the nature of piety. *The Apology* presents Socrates's defense against charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. *Crito* explores Socrates's decision not to escape from prison, arguing that he must obey the laws of Athens. *Phaedo* delves into the nature of the human soul and Socrates's arguments for its immortality. These dialogues are central to Western philosophy, examining critical questions about ethics, law, and the human condition.

#4366

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

Euthyphro

Plato

Plato's "Euthyphro" is a short but significant dialogue that explores the nature of piety and the relationship between morality and divine will. The dialogue centers on a conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro, who is prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates challenges Euthyphro's definition of piety, leading to a series of attempts to define the concept that ultimately fail. The dialogue raises the famous Euthyphro dilemma: is something pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious? This dilemma highlights the tension between divine command theory and the existence of objective moral truths. "Euthyphro" is a classic example of Socratic questioning and its enduring relevance lies in its exploration of fundamental questions about morality and the nature of the divine.

#3668

• Mentioned in 13 episodes

Apology

Plato

Plato's *Apology* is a historical and philosophical account of Socrates' defense at his trial in 399 BCE. Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth and impiety, but instead of apologizing, he defended his actions as a philosopher, emphasizing his commitment to truth and virtue. The dialogue captures Socrates' fearless reasoning and his reflections on mortality, leading to his eventual sentencing to death by drinking hemlock.

Last week, Socrates was on his way to his trial in the Euthyphro dialogue. In Apology, Socrates is giving his defense against three charges:

* Not recognizing the gods recognized by the State

* Manufacturing new gods

* Corrupting the youth

If you are expecting any contrition on the part of Socrates, you’ve come to the wrong place. Here, apology means a defense speech in a legal proceeding, and Socrates is anything but apologetic in the sorrowful sense. Here we see a defiant man unconcerned with death but rather in continuing on in a life of justice and piety despite the threat to his life.

It’s quite startling actually. The defiance of Socrates in the face of 501 of his peers. But it’s also quite disturbing that a society that produced such great works of art around this exact time (399BC) could also kill one of its best citizens. Can civilization handle this level of truth telling?

In this episode, I consider Socrates’ defense to the three charges, look at Aristophanes’ Clouds and another account of the trial, Xenophon’s Apology.

Show Notes:

Book Versions:

* Plato Complete Works - edited by John M. Cooper - translated by G.M.A. Grube

* The Last Days of Socrates - translated by Hugh Tredennick and Harold Tarrant (intro) - Penguin Classics

* Xenophon Apology - translated by Martin Hammond - Oxford World’s Classics

* Xenophon Socrates’ Defense - translated by Hugh Tredennick and Robin Waterfield, with an excellent intro by Waterfield - Penguin Classics

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