(The dialogue 'Apology' is Socrates' defence of himself against the accusitions brought against him in the court of Athens. He is prosecuted with the allegations of impiety- rejecting the traditional Athenian gods and introducing new, as well as curruption of the youth.)
Socrates begins his defence by pleading not guilty. He claims that he's been slandered by many men over the years, falsely accused of "studying things in the sky and below the earth, making the worse argument the stronger". This claim is simply absurd. He puts the accuser Meletus in front of the jury, and interrogates him on his claims. When Meletus says that every Athenian, from the Jury and the Council to the audience, everyone improves the young but Socrates, Socrates reminds him that in every skill its one or very few refine and improve namel those who possess mastery of the subject. Only horsebreeders possess knowledge required for betterment of the horses even if many own horses. In the case of virtue and betterment of men, Socrates reminds the council the prophecy made in his name.
It was the testimony of the Orace of Delphi that there is no man wiser than Socrates. Yet Socrates was dissatisfied for he himself claimed to not know anything. Wanting to refute the Oracle's claim, Socrates went to men who claimed to wise by people and themselves, but upon conversing he found them to be not. Socrates realised in that case he truly maybe infact wiser, for although they both do not know anything, he is not ignorant to believe himself to know something which he does not. Socrates believes that the slander and hate against him arises out of such interactions. His unpopularity has arisen through his struggle to find men who possess wisdom, for even those who claim to be wise he has found barren. He believes that even poets do not compose with knowldge but sheer inborn talent and inspiration. It is these reputed men who take offense and charge him of guilt.
He then extends his defence against the accusitions of Meletus. When Meletus accuses the guilty of deliberately currutping the youth, Socrates claims it cannot be so. The wicked harm the closest to them, and if he had currupted his associates and the claims were true, he'd run the danger of getting harmed himself.
Socrates occupation is primarily this, his service to god as he claims it. It is by god's will that he practices philosophy and even he were acquitted on the condition he shouldn't practice anymore, he cannot accept. He doesn't hold a office, or take any students or charges any kind of fees, questions the old and young, rich and poor eqully. As for why he doesn't serve the city by being a public official, twice he was almost sentences to death when he did, for he wouldn't live without preventing the unjust in the society, which eventually shall lead to his own demise.
(Here, Jury verdicts guilty.)
Socrates is not suprised, and yet doesn't change his approach. He claims that he should be respected even more than the Olympians for they make one feel happy by their victory or skill, but it is Socrates who makes them to be happy. Even at this point of the verdict, he wouldn't bring in his weeping wife and children making them pleade for his accquital for that would only be disrespectful to the court. Instead, he would persuade the Jury how to be good men and tend to their souls.
He is not afraid of exile either, he would continue to obey god's will, and continue his occupation of verifying virtue, for it is the greatest virtue for a man. Yet since the jury has already decided against Socrates, as a punishment he proposes a fee of One Mina of Silver (his associates are even ready for 500 but he wouldn't go that far).
Jury sentences death penalty.
As the court is dissolved, Socrates implores the men to wait and converse with him who voted in favour of Socrates. On death he speaks- if it is complete cease of perception its an advantage for it would be like a long sleep, and if its change of places for the soul from here to someplace else, even to better to live among the wise who have passed before him.
Finally Socrates urges them to pass on the same teachings and treatment onto his sons which onces he gave these men, and reproach them if they care for money and fame more than virtue.
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