Socrates' Fight for Justice

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Recommended: The Apology of Socrates

In Plato’s works Apology and Crito there is an attempt by Socrates to defend himself in court and defend his choice to receive the death penalty when found guilty. Although he makes very valid and strong arguments throughout one can only wonder why such a wise person would choose death over life. The following essay will analyze three quotes from Apology and Crito, find the correlation between them, and reveal any flaws that may exsist inside these arguments made by Socrates.

In Plato’s Apology Socrates explains to the jury the reasons he should be found not guilty against his accused crimes. Although none of the accusations have any true merit Socrates is forced into the courtroom. During his defense Socrates states, “A man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if he is to survive even a short time (Cahn pg. 36 Apology 32a1).” Socrates is arguing that anybody that wants to truly fight for justice must stay out of the public eye, and out of politics due to its corrupt nature. To back this claim Socrates follows with two examples of his past, one being, “I served as a member of our tribe, and our council was trying the ten generals who failed to pick up the survivors of a naval battle. This was illegal, as you all recognized later. I was the only member to oppose and I voted against it. The orators were ready to prosecute me and take me away (Cahn pg. 37 Apology 32b1-9).” Socrates gave the readers explicit examples of members of a political committee acting unjustly and attempting to punch those who do not follow along with their agenda. Anybody that has ever been a part of a social group that makes decisions, whether it is political or not, has most likely ran into this issue. As acknowledged by Do...

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...s to define his beliefs of a good life and does so convincingly throughout until one realizes that you cannot base an argument solely on opinion. Socrates believes that a good life is a life that follows the laws of the state and a life that if full of only acts of justice. Without a better reason for his arguments and a claim that doesn’t involve an absolute definition of a goof life, it is impossible to take Socrates arguments as verifiable.

Works Cited

Cahn, Steven M. Classics of Western Philosophy. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Pub., 2006. Print.

Goldman, Harvey S. "Reexamining the “Examined Life” in Plato’s Apology of Socrates." EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. 2004. Web. 11 Feb. 2011.

Blyth, Dougal. "Socrates' Trial and Conviction of the Jurors in Plato's Apology." Project Muse. Penn State University Press, 1 Nov. 2000. Web. 11 Feb. 2011.

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