Author Bio: Plato (428/427 or 424/423 - 348/347 BCE) was the most famous pupil of Socrates. In addition to achieving great advances in the field of philosophy, Plato also greatly impacted the field of mathematics, particularly in geometry. His works still survive to this day and influence adults and children alike in areas such as ethics, rhetoric, religion, and those listed above.
Speaker: Socrates (470/469 - 399 BC) was a Classical Greek philosopher and stonecutter who served the Athenian state both politically and as a soldier in their army. In addition to contributions in philosophy, ethics, and debate, Socrates was also a sage teacher and instructor to many young Athenians, including Plato. He disliked so-called "sophists" who taught everything for a fee, and so decided that he would informally educate the youth for free.
Date/Context: By 404 BCE, five years before Socrates' trial, the Peloponnesian War had come to an end. The Athenians lost and were humiliated by Sparta; the Athenian democracy was replaced with the reactionary (conservative) rule of the Thirty Tyrants. These ruthless Athenian citizens purged former political enemies and although a democracy was reestablished, it was no longer as tolerant or as free as that of old Athens. Indicative of this decline is Socrates's trial, in which his accusers claimed that he did not believe in the gods and was corrupting the youth of the state. Plato witnessed the trial that was to follow and wrote an account of Socrates' defense called the Apology. The text is largely Plato's observation of what Socrates said and did while on trial; Socrates was ultimately put to death by poisonous hemlock and made a martyr.
Summary: Socrates opens in this excerpt by speaking of his circumstances: several rich, influential Athenians have accused him of corrupting the city and its youth. Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon, his accusers, stand firm with their claims, and Socrates is thus forced to testify. He argues that he shall obey the reasoning of God rather than the word of man and goes on to explain his indispensability to the state. He claims that he will never stop thinking and pondering life even if it costs him his life. He states that wisdom and nourishment for the soul far outweigh glory and outward reputation, and that Athens better bear this in mind. He boldly asserts that he is a gift from God, a sort of gadfly sent to prod the state into intellectual, humanistic thinking that benefits all. He argues that disabling others does not improve oneself, and that his same fate with curse all young, intelligent Athenians if the attitude of the city doesn't change. In Socrates's death lay the collapse of Athenian ideals and culture.
Key Quotation: "...if you say to me, Socrates, this time we will not mind Anytus, and you shall be let off, but upon one condition, that you are not to enquire and speculate in this way any more, and that if you are caught doing so again you shall die; if this was the condition on which you let me go, I should reply: Men of Athens, I honor and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practice and teaching of philosophy..."
"For if you kill me you will not easily find a successor to me, who, if I may use such a ludicrous figure of speech, am a sort of gadfly, given to the state by God; and the state is a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life. I am that gadfly which God has attached to the state, and all day long and in all places I am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you."
To identify this document, one needs only to look at the basics; numerous times Socrates mentions his own name in his defense as well as the name of Athens. These both lead to an image of ancient Greece. He also mentions the accusation against him of having “no gods” leading one to believe that this was written in a more religious time or place. The reader also sees words like “punish,” “condemn,” and “judges” which suggest a trial running its course. They also imply that the trial has an awful outlook for the defendant. Some other key words include “knowledge,” which the reader knows is what Socrates is being tried for, and “gadfly” because Socrates has become known by this nickname.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jake’s comment, it is incredibly thorough while not becoming nitpicky with all of the details. He mentions every important point in the primary source document and keeps the biographies of both speaker and author relevant to the document. The only improvement he could make would be to mention the biases of the speaker considering that that can majorly influence every facet of the document. Other than that, he followed the format perfectly and kept all of his information to the point.
Excellent! Socrates emphasized the importance of questioning and discussion. In tumultuous post-Peloponnesian War Athens, this was a threat to those in power.
ReplyDelete"And now, Athenians, I am not going to argue for my own sake, as you may think, but for yours, that you may not sin against God by condemning me, who am his gift to you. For if you kill me you will not easily find a successor to me, who...am a gadfly given to the state by God; and the state is a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life."