Socrates Rebuttal Against Meletus

In the Apology, Socrates aimed to do three things: defend his ideas and principles, continue to teach those who will open their mind and state that he knew regardless of what he said he was aware that all five hundred and one jurors knew who he was and disliked him. Socrates was well aware of the fact that he had made multiple enemies, he knew that the politicians, poets, rich and craftsmen all

was led to court because of some accusations that became serious charges and led Socrates to death at the age of seventy. In this essay, the argument between Socrates and Meletus will be examined based on the accusations of corrupting the youths, believing in other gods instead of gods of Athens and making the weaker argument appear stronger and their refutations that show Socrates was actually accused of being a smart speaker.

The Apology was written by Plato as an account of the defense that Socrates presented during the trial in which he was condemned to death. Socrates gave this apologia, or defense of one’s actions, against the accusations that he did not believe in any gods, and that he was corrupting the young men of Athens. Not being as skillful in the art of oratory as his accusers, Socrates admitted that he would, as plainly as possible, present only truthful and logical refutes to the accusations that were against him. Being wise in the way of rhetoric, Socrates used pathos, ethos, and logos to argue in his defense. Although ultimately executed, Socrates masterfully defended himself in court and proved that he was a man of both virtue and wisdom.

Socrates implies that the true nature of this charge was, in fact, vengeance carried out on the part of the power-holders of the Athenian society; the politicians, the poets, the manual artisans.  Socrates, unwillingly made fools out of these people by exposing their speeches as mere rhetoric than actual wisdom and knowledge.  These men who were seen as the wisest and the most enlightened, but in fact, by believing that they are most knowledgeble is what keeps them from real wisdom.  Socrates is also being charged with attacking the Athenian society by corrupting its citizens, mainly the youth.  He defends himself by claiming that either Meletus beleives that Socrates does not corrupt the youth or he does corrupt them but involuntarily.  Socrates bring to light that "if I corrupt them voluntarily, the law does not call upon you to procecute me for an error which is involuntary, but to take me aside privately and reprove and educate me" (33).  Socrates goes on further to say

In the Apology Socrates is a very simple man he is Plato’s favorite character based on his personality of appearance. To convey his ideas about honesty and rightness. The peculiar of a method applied in Apology is about an argument which Socrates used to expressed by Plato in The Apology (Steven 29p) uses to defend himself in the course of a court-martial. Plato’s Apology is an example of how Socrates speech makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the city, The complaint of Socrates is based on fear people of the man’s thinking which inspires the youth by original ideas and exposure of the ignorance and corruption in the unawareness and dishonesty in the upper circles of the state. Socrates

According to the majority of the jury members of Athens, Socrates is a corruption to the youth, doer of evil and does not agree with the gods of his people. In the Apology, written by Plato these are the assumptions and accusations Socrates is held in court for. In court, he is faced with what most men fear, being wrongly accused leading to the death sentence. Socrates argues and strives to prove that he has no fear of being hated, being accused of serious crimes, being threatened with punishment, or being put to death.

Socrates was a pompous man who believed that he was wiser than most, if not all, Athenian men of his time. He is also credited as one of the fathers of western philosophy, his own philosophy revolving around the welfare of one’s soul and reflecting on what the good life was. He was told by an oracle that he was the wisest of men and spent a great deal of time trying to prove it false, he decided that he was considered wise for accepting that he knew nothing, and never claimed to know anything that he questioned. In Plato’s text “Apology” Socrates is depicted as a man who was arrogant, hypercritical of others, and fixed on his ways no matter the consequences. He had the qualities of a man who saw no error in what he was doing because he

Socrates was greek philosopher. Socrates gets slandered by athenians because he was the wisest of all. The text apology is about socrates being put on trial by meletus and the athenians. However he should not be slandered and should not listen to lies about him. He should not let themselves be indicted by athenians and should defend himself.

In court, it was Socrates’ responsibility to defend himself against the accusations. Back then, they had no lawyers, so instead the accused would defend themselves. He calls up Meletus to cross-examine him and proceeds to attack the charges that were made against him. He begins with who improves the youth, and Meletus tries to go around the question and replies that the laws do. Socrates agrees but asks who made the laws—no one but the judges, of course. So he asks Meletus which judge, and then what senator, corrupts the youth too, to which Meletus has answered all that none of them do. Overall, Meletus clearly states before the court that everyone improves the youth but Socrates, which is a ridiculous statement.

Essay: A Discussion on whether or not I believe that Socrates’ views in the Crito contradict his views expressed in the Apology.

Regardless of the title of the following historical work, this composition, by Socrates at his trial, was definitely not a statement of regret. Plato, who composed Apology, was an understudy of Socrates and this is his record of the trial. Despite the fact that he was available at the trial, the words might have been balanced by Plato to reflect what he thought Socrates ought to have said or what he thought Socrates intended to say. Plato was exceptionally enamored with Socrates, in this manner the way he might show him can be predisposition. Socrates endeavored to induce the men of Athens of his honesty by introducing himself as a decent man and a power of learning, as announced by the Delphic prophet. Socrates endeavored to make a coherent contention of the allegations when he doubted his informer, Meletus. At that point, to guarantee his absolution, he attempted to speak to the feelings of the judges. While Socrates'

Socrates makes a valid argument because most individuals, create beliefs based on oral traditions or hearsays; without critically analyzing each information for ourselves. I believe like Euthyphro we have no idea, as to what we truly believe and as a result we are ignorant as was in the case of Euthyphro. Socrates reminds us that in order to decipher the truth we have question our basic beliefs in order to derive to the truth.

Apparently a friend of his went to the oracle at Delphi and asked if any man was wiser than Socrates to which the oracle replied that indeed, “no one was wiser.” (Plato 21a) Therefore Socrates reasons that he is on a mission from the god, as he calls it, to refute this claim. All the actions that he committed which were considered to be treasonous were therefore demanded by the god, and Socrates had no choice but to comply. This kind or reasoning cannot be argued with since it is backed by a god and consequently it is not. Meletus, Socrates’ accuser never says a word in rebuttal, or at least Plato never mentions it if he does. Meletus’ only role for the entirety of the apology is to briefly answer Socrates’ questions just in whatever way is most convenient for Socrates’ argument, thus reducing him to little more than a literary device.

The accusers, Meletos, Anytos, and Lycon, are all young and trying to make a name for themselves. They begin by telling everyone not to be deceived and to take caution because Socrates is a “clever speaker”. According to Socrates, the difference between him and his accusers is that he speaks the truth. He is on trial for two items, which include, corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates tells everyone that he has no experience with the court and he will speak the way he is used to by being honest and direct. Socrates explains that his behavior is from the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.      

I personally agree with both, where having a proper knowledgeable expertise is important, following the laws and guidelines is very important too. However, according to me Socrates happens to better understanding than Meletus, because if there is no proper source of knowledge than there also exist no scoop of