Plato’s The Apology

Plato (427-347 BCE)• Member of an aristocratic family in

Athens• Had two brothers and a sister• Served in Athens’ army, either during

the Peloponnesian War or shortly thereafter

• Was one of Socrates’ students• Most of his works are written as

dialogues• In 387 BCE he founded the Academy• Aristotle was one of his students

Socrates was Plato’s teacher and the main character in The Apology

• Apology = means an explanation or defense of one’s views, not an apology

• It is Plato’s version of a speech that Socrates made during his trial in 399 BCE

• This dialogue was probably Plato’s earliest dialogue but it is unclear when it was written; however, some scholars think it was written perhaps as early as a year or two after the trial

• Was Plato present at Socrates’ trial?

Yes, but he did not speak

More on Socrates• At the time of the trial Socrates is around

70 years old

• He is married (to Xanthippe) and has three sons, two of whom are very young

• He is a stonemason and farmer by trade

• His mother (Phaenerete) was a midwife, his father (Sophroniscus) a stonemason and sculptor

• When young, Socrates fought for Athens in several battles; he served as a hoplite

Did Socrates write any books?

• No, Socrates did not write any books

• We only know of him through others’ books or plays

• E.g., the playwright Aristophanes’ Clouds (ca 423 BCE) or the historian Xenophon’s Apology of Socrates to the Jury in addition to Plato’s works

• Does it matter if we only know of Socrates (or anyone else, for that matter) through others’ accounts?

Background information to trial: Key events

• The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE): Sparta vs. Athens

• Rule of Athens by the 30 Tyrants (404-403 BCE): Plato’s uncle and cousin were two of the tyrants as was Critias, a former pupil of Socrates

• Democratic rebellion led by Alcibiades leads to overthrow of the tyrants in 403 BCE

Important terms or references in the dialogue• Gadfly = horsefly; an insect that bites

livestock and torments them; a person who provokes others into action by criticism

• The Oracle at Delphi (aka the Pythian high priestess) = a person who makes prophecies

• Slander = false accusation that damages someone’s reputation

• Affidavit = written testimony; sworn declaration

• Enmity = the state of being hostile and actively opposed to someone

Key vocabulary (continued)

• Calumnies = false and slanderous statements

• Pretense = false or deceptive claim

• Inveterate = long-established, unlikely to change

• Reproaching = expressing disapproval

• Exhorting = strongly encouraging someone to do something

• Impudence = impertinent, disrespectful

• Acquit = declare innocent