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Socrates Falsehoods Analysis

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“But many as their falsehoods were, there was one of them which quite amazed me; - I mean when they told you to be upon your guard, and not let yourselves be deceived by the force of my eloquence.” These are the words of Socrates, recorded by Plato, and the words that occur at the start of the trial against the Athenian philosopher. Not only that but also the foundation Socrates lays for his entire defense. Though he claims to not be an eloquent speaker, unless eloquence be measured only as truth, it becomes clear after greater examination of his defense that these claims are simply falsehoods. Whether or not Socrates was truly as unprepared as he claims to be to present himself before the court and regardless of the outcome of the jury’s final …show more content…

In an appropriate act of self-preservation, Socrates stands before the Athenian court and tells them of the kind of man he is and enlightens them of the falsities that lie within the slander spoken of him. Socrates brings out into the open accusations that were made against him a long time ago in order to prove that these statements about his were wrong. He is accused of being a wise man, investigating things in the natural world, and making the weaker speech the stronger. As pointed out by Kazutaka Kondo in “Socrates’ Rhetorical Strategy in Plato’s Apology,” Socrates seems to gain nothing out of bringing up accusations not even mentioned by the court during his trial. However, upon realizing that Socrates’ goal throughout the trial is not just to be acquitted of the charges brought against him (though this is a substantial aim of his), or to defend his notion of philosophy as good (which also occurs frequently throughout the Apology), but to change the way he is seen in the eyes of the men of Athens. In doing so Socrates will further his goal to help others achieve self-knowledge. Following along the lines of bettering his name, …show more content…

Since he had asked the audience at the beginning of his defense to not interrupt him even if something he said disturbed them, he now uses that to his advantage to and asked himself a question as if it were from a thoughtful member of the jury. The fictional person, Socrates uses to once again work his words around the court to make them think in the way that he wishes them too. He infers that his primary argument was sufficient and uses the query to lead into his next topic of discussion: his wisdom. Socrates’ has already made it know to the court that he is a wise man and he has eloquently persuaded them that he is not as bad a man as rumors would have them believe. During the second part of his argument, Socrates addresses in greater detail than the previous, his view of philosophy and takes a stance defending it. Interestingly enough, this is still being used to clear Socrates’ name and acquit him of his “crimes.” He seeks to clarify the reason that rumors about him came about in the first place. He speaks first of the Delphic Oracle and how the god told Chaerephon, regarding Socrates, that no man was wiser than he and how in an effort to bring a counter-argument to the god, the philosopher set out to interrogate men considered wise. Socrates also cites that another source of the Athenians’ distaste towards him was rooted in the youth that he taught, who

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