[17] – Socrates begins by questioning the affect of his indictment on the Athenians he is addressing. Socrates states the accusations against him are false and even exaggerated. Whereas the arguments against him are false yet believable because of good argument technique, he will only tell the truth which should stand on its own merit. He asks for forgiveness because he is old, and unfamiliar with court proceedings, and does not speak well.
[18] Socrates wished to rebut both old and new arguments against him, and desired to defend himself against the old arguments first because they have had a longer effect on people.
[19] While Socrates accusers have been around for awhile, he acknowledges he only has a limited time to defend himself. Socrates summarizes the complaint against him:
1. He is an evil-doer
2. He is a curious person
a. who searches into things under the earth and heaven (doesn’t believe in the gods, searches for physical explanations)
3. He makes the worse appear the better cause
4. He teaches said doctrine to others
Whereas Socrates did not accept money, and if he did he would consider it a compliment on the good job he was doing, Athenians were in the habit of paying Sophists for the very things he was being accused of (using rhetoric to overcome sound reasoning, or speaking convincingly but falsely).
[20] Socrates brings up an idea that some may thing that “there is something here” otherwise no accusations would be brought about. Socrates acknowledges he possesses wisdom.
[21] Socrates vs politician “I tried to explain to him that he thought himself wise, but was not really wise; and the consequence was that he hated me.”
[22] Socrates vs poets and artesans – “This inquisition has led to my having many enemies of the worst and most dangerous kind.”
[23] God only is wise. Wisdom of men is worth little or nothing. Young men attempted to expose similar classes by using words similar to Socrates.
[24] Further complaints against Socrates:
1. Doer of evil
2. Corrupts the youth
3. Does not believe in the gods of the state
4. Has other divinities of his own
[27] Socrates points out that “men cannot believe in horsemanship but not horses” and points out that by virtue of his teaching and believing in divine and spiritual agencies, he must believe in God.
[28] A man who is good for anything ought not to calculate his chance of living or dying; he ought only consider whether in doing anything he is right or wrong – acting the part of a good man or bad. Consider the heroes of Troy or Achilles.
[29] Fear of death is a pretense of wisdom – death, although viewed as the greatest evil may in fact be the greatest good. Socrates admitted he did not know or suppose to know anything about life after death (the world below).
Even if Socrates was set free upon condition of not practicing philosophy, his response was that “men of Athens, I honor and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practice and teaching of philosophy.”
[30] Socrates desire was to convince people to “first and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul.” As such, Socrates states that if the court decides to kill him, they are injuring the state more than him – in part because they won’t find a successor. A comparison is made that Socrates is a gadfly on the state which is a steed.
[36] Socrates is convicted, with a near equal vote of guilt by the court. He recommends his punishment (reward) for conviction should be maintenance in the Prytaneum. And he maintains his intent was never harm. Socrates then states while he could only realistically pay one Mina, his friends were ready to provide a “bond” (surity) of 30 minae.
[38] Socrates is sentenced to death. He responds by saying although he could have responded the way the court would have liked (weeping, wailing, and lamenting) he purposefully chose not to. Even after sentencing, Socrates expressed that he was not remorseful for his defense – “I would rather die having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live.”
“Daily discourse of virtue […] is the greatest good of man. The unexamined life is not worth living.”
[39] In battle some may throw away their weapons and fall to their knees to escape death; however, the difficulty is to avoid unrighteousness not death. While Socrates departs the court with a death sentence the court departs suffering condemned by the penalty of villainy and wrong.
[40] If death leads to nothingness and utter unconsciousness: it is a gain, think of the nights you slept with unbroken sleep. If death leads to the migration of soul from this world to another: would be nothing better, you will meet the true judges and have conversations with great people and gods.
[41] Know of a certainty that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. He and his are not neglected by the gods.
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