What Was Socrates Best Defense In The Apology?

Specifically, the Apology of Socrates is a defence

against the charges of “corrupting the youth”

and “not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel” to Athens (24b).

How did Socrates defend himself in the apology?

Socrates begins his defense by

acknowledging that many people have accused him of “studying things in the sky and below the earth”

and of “making the worse into the stronger argument” and teaching these things to others (p. 26).

How does Socrates present himself in the apology?

Thus, in The Apology,

Socrates attempts to defend himself and his conduct–certainly not

to apologize for it. For the most part, Socrates speaks in a very plain, conversational manner. … This is the only instance in The Apology of the elenchus, or cross-examination, which is so central to most Platonic dialogues.

How did Socrates defend philosophy?

In conclusion, Socrates believed that philosophy was

an improvement of the soul as it reveals our ignorance

; therefore it is important to live an “examined life.” He believed that you will most likely lead a miserable life if you do not question your beliefs and ideas.

Why did Socrates not defend himself?

In making his defense, Socrates did

not attempt to prove that he was innocent of the charge of disbelief in the Athenian gods

. Instead, he addressed himself to the larger implications involved in the so-called crimes of which he had been accused.

What was Socrates goal in apology?

Socrates’s goal in Plato’s Apology was

never to defend himself, but to continue doing his life’s work of exposing falsehood in others

. Socrates does this by asking questions.

Was Socrates defense convincing?

How does Plato defend Socrates?

Plato’s

speech

represents his creative attempt to defend Socrates and his way of life and to condemn those who voted to kill him. … One of them, no doubt, was to defend and praise Socrates by making use of many of the points Socrates himself had offered in his speech.

What according to Socrates in the apology is his mission to Athens?

His priorities are clear:

wealth and honor are trifling concerns next to the pursuit of truth and the perfecting of the soul

. This is the message he preaches to the youth of Athens, and unless such preaching corrupts them, he is innocent of the charges laid against him.

Why does Socrates think that he should not be punished?

Socrates is arguing that he should be spared

because he serves a vital (if annoying) role in society

: he forces people out of their intellectual somnolence by making them think about the things they take for granted; he questions what other people don’t question, without trying to impose some new idea or belief.

What did Socrates do?

Socrates was a scholar, teacher and philosopher born in ancient Greece. His Socratic method laid the

groundwork for Western systems of logic and philosophy

.

What is Socrates view on punishment?

Socrates thought of punishment as

a form of care or cure of the soul of its wickedness

. He compared it with the cure of bodily disease.

How does Socrates defend himself against the charge that he has corrupted the youth of Athens in apology?

In order to defend himself against these charges,

Socrates calls on Meletus, his principal accuser, and interrogates him in the familiar form of the elenchus, or cross-examination

. … Socrates then urges Meletus to clarify which people might have this good influence, whose business it is to know the laws.

Does Socrates believe in punishment?

Socrates and Polus both agree that punishment

serves to bring those guilty of wrong to justice

, by balancing against the wrong which already has been committed. Socrates also points out that one who receives punishment for a wrong “suffers justly” by paying the just penalty.

What are Socrates accomplishments?

Socrates (469-399 B.C.) was a classical Greek philosopher who is credited with laying the fundamentals of modern Western philosophy. He is known for

creating Socratic irony and the Socratic method (elenchus)

.

What are 5 facts about Socrates?

1. He was of middle economic status. …
2. He made money from teaching. …
3. No belief in religion. …
4. He died by hemlock poisoning. …
5. He did not leave any recorded teachings behind. …
6. Famous teacher. …
7. Know thyself.

How did Socrates affect the world?

Socrates was one of the first people to encourage people to question what is right or wrong? He

would ask questions to all of society to establish what was good

and what was bad which would later shape the legal conducts in Western society.