Taylor Lach

Whidden, Prompt #4
10/15/14
In Platos Apology, Socrates is put on trial in front of the people of Athens. In
his defense speech, Socrates uses paradoxical stories to explain the character of a
philosopher, but he also recognizes that this way of life is incompatible with the
citizenry of Athens. While philosophy hopes to educate and benefit man, Socrates
knows that the jurys understanding is limited by their own human ignorance and
that he will probably be unable to convince them to acquit him.
Socrates acknowledges his awareness of this ignorance and how he obtained
such wisdom through the story of the Oracle at Delphi (21a). He brings up a
relationship between divinity and philosophy to explain his actions to the Athenians
who place great emphasis upon religion. Socrates explains that his comrade,
Chaerephon, asked the Oracle whether there was anyone wiser than Socrates
(21a). Because The Pythia replied that no one was wiser, Socrates was doubtful of
the validity of the gods statement (21a). He questions the possibility that he could
be wisest, saying I am conscious that I am not at all wisesurely he is not saying
something false, at least; for that is not sanctioned for him (21b). In trying to prove
his call to philosophy as divinely-given, Socrates has revealed to the pious people of
Athens that he doubted the statement of a god. This would upset the people
greatly, as noted by Socrates when he tells the jury, do not make disturbances,
men when he brings up his own blasphemy (21a). Since he doubts the gods claim,
Socrates goes each of the men of Athens presumed to be wise and tries to show
him that he supposed he was wise, but was not, but, From this [Socrates] became
hateful both to him and to many of those present (21c). He was made privy
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societys deficiencies, enlightened as to their inability to be wise past the confines

of human wisdom which this Oracle is sayingis worth little or nothing (23a). In a
society that greatly values human intellect and religion, Socrates the philosopher
creates great friction when he questions these values.
Even more tension between polis and philosophy is created when Socrates
uses his daimonion to try to defend himself in the trial. The conscience-like
character of his daimonion is a voice in Socrates head that restrains him even in
quite small matters if [he] were about to do something incorrectly (40a). The
existence of this voice affirms another value held by philosophers, they believe in
truthful actions and words and strive to commit no unjust or impious deed (32d).
This reveals the philosophers adherence to truth and justice, but also identifies a
new, radical, divine being that would definitely unsettle the people of Athens. The
daimonion functions in Socrates defense speech by convincing Meletus, one of his
accusers, that he is not completely atheistic and [does] not do injustice in this
way (26c). But, this is at the cost of bringing up an unheard-of godly presence that
affirms another accusation that Socrates imports new gods into Athenian society
(Lecture). Socrates knows that his audiences wisdom is lacking, even those with
the best reputations seemed to [him] the most deficient, so upon hearing about
this strange divine being, they will be stirred up (22a). He recognizes that there is
no device by which you could persuade any human being who is even slightly
intelligent that it is not the part of the same man to believe in both daimonia and
divine things (27e) The struggle between the beliefs of the philosopher and
societys capacity to understand his beliefs continues.

Another goal of philosophy is to remedy this human ignorance, not only

reveal it, which Socrates believes can be achieved through education (39d). He
discusses the philosophers tireless attempts at teaching and revealing truth with
the story of the gadfly. Socrates likens Athens to a great and well-born horse that is
rather sluggish because of his great size, which needs to be awakened by some
gadfly, namely: Socrates (30e). He points out that the gods have charged him,
through the Oracles claim and his daimonia, with the task of awakening and
persuading and reproaching each one of the citizens, never settling down (30e-31a).
Philosophy needs to endlessly question and analyze everything in its path, just as
the gadfly lands for short times on everything. But, by using a gadfly as a
representative of philosophy, Socrates recognizes that their efforts are annoying to
society and possibly even fruitless. He admits, Perhaps you may be vexed, like the
drowsy when they are awakened, and if you obey Anytus and slap me, you will
easily kill me (31a). But Socrates also warns that by killing off the philosophers,
society will remain asleep, unenlightened, and ignorant (31a). To combat this
ignorance, Socrates lives to persuade the public to care about their virtue, as a
father or an older brother might do (31b). Philosophy exists, albeit annoyingly, to
educate the individual, but Socrates recognizes that mans wisdom may not extend
to realizing the help that he offers (31b-c).
In Socrates defense speech, he brings up another story which not only
outlines virtues of philosophy, but also reveals its incompatibility in politics.
Philosophy may exist to benefit the individual, but because of the fickle and
subjective nature of democracy, it simply does not mix well with politics. Socrates
reveals his experiences with this incompatibility with stories of his attempt to
partake in politics. He never held any office in the city, which was unlike Athenian
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custom, except for being once on the Council (32b). During this time, he
recognized injustice being committed when the Council wanted to judge, as a group,
ten generals who broke the law. Socrates opposes anything that breaks the laws, so
he voted against italthough orators were ready to indict me and arrest me
(32b). He proclaims that the government, as strong as it was, did not shock [him]
into doing anything unjust, because philosophys whole purpose is to question
injustice and wisdom to educate man. Even the firmly-held beliefs of the Council or
the polis are not safe from this questioning, making philosophy innately
incompatible with society. Socrates presents this discordancy to his jury with a
question, Do you supposed, then, that I would have survived so many years if I had
been publicly active and had acted in a manner worthy of a good man? (32e). One
cannot live a good and just life in a public or political setting. Philosophy does not
mix well with political people, especially when a philosopher is on trial in front of
them.
Socrates defends himself against the people of Athens unexpectedly when he
presents stories that unearth the qualities of philosophy and outline its
inconsistencies with public life. While, at its core, philosophy hopes to benefit the
individual questions of truth and justice, this causes tension between the citizens of
Athens traditional beliefs (Lecture). With the story of the Oracle and the gadfly,
Socrates explained the divine calling of philosophers, their need to question
everything, and their unwillingness to ever stop doing so. Socrates daimonia and
his attempt at political life described philosophys incompatibility with age-old
beliefs and the fickle nature of politics. Through these stories, the benefits of
philosophers are presented, but theyre revealed to be unwanted or unaccepted by
the people they wish to help (36c-d). In the end, the only benefit philosophers
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receive from their questioning and efforts to educate is the time they had to
philosophize.