Apology of Socrates

The Apology of Socrates is not really an apology of Socrates for his teaching or philosophy instead the word "Apology" means defense in this context. Socrates was inviting interlocutors to think rather than impose. Thereupon, a jury of 500 Athenians sends him, a 70-year-old philosopher to death in Athens a society famous for freedom, wisdom, and democracy.

Socrates talks to people in a rational dialogue instead of "teaching". He doesn't use the usual hierarchy but rather cooperation. The purpose of these dialogues is to search for the true definitions of some important terms, such as courage, justice, piety, happiness, and virtue. He is interested in "how to live". For him, knowledge requires a constant examination of our opinions in order to locate the errors in them. One has to think through so that one has his/her own judgments rather than borrowing them.

Socrates uses the "gadfly" metaphor in his defense of the accusations, believing in different gods. He believes in sacred beings, he is not "impious". First, he attacks logically, since there has been whispering of divine things from his childhood, he is not impious, and the accusation of Meletus is contradictory. Then he reveals, explains what his real mission is, being a servant of one of the most important Greek gods, Apollo. He is a believer, he is loyal to Apollo. B explaining his service, he uses the "gadfly" metaphor.

His service is to wake Athens up. He is trying to remind them the wisdom courage, and values, such as caring for yourself/ your soul, and examining yourself of Athens. Because of this reminding mission, he is a gift to the city, however, unfortunately, his importance and affords cannot be even realized. The metaphor illustrates his loyalty to his mission, to God, and to Athens. Later in his defense, he expresses that his going against his own human nature, instead of being interested in his own family, he treats Athens as his family, ".... a father or elder brother to persuade you to care to virtue"(31a-b). His genuine concern is to wake Athens and even if he comes face to face with death, although his value is not appreciated or realized, he cannot and will not give up his mission. Whatever happens or has happened, he says, he would not stop conversing with people about virtue and reminding the values of Athenians.

References:

"Apology of Socrates"

ETHC 105 Lecture Notes, Elis Simson, Koç University