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Does Socrates persuasively defend himself in the Apology? Why or why not? What,

precisely, do you think Socrates is defending in the Apology? Choose any two

arguments Socrates deploys in the Apology to support your account of his defense.

Platos Apology presents Socratess arguments at the trial where he has persuasivelydefended himself before the time of his death. Through the questions in which he posed,

he has successfully earned the admiration from the youth but much hatred from those he

humiliated and thus, the reason he was put into trial. Socrates handled his arguments in

an honest and direct manner for he stood up for what he believed in by utilizing many

theories through reasoning and was still executed for his beliefs. The idea of accepting

the punishment in the end has proven that his defense of seeking for wisdom and

educating the youth showed that it was clearly his highest aim in life knowing that he

puts his life at risk for the good of others.Socrates was charged due to his immorality of corrupting the youth by introducing new

deities to the Athenian society, according to Meletus, the chief accuser of Socrates at thetrial. In Socratess case, he was trying to protect the youth from the falsehoods that the

jurors and those who claimed themselves as teachers. In reference to the text Socrates

was referred to as, a doer of evil, and corrupter of the youth, and he does not believe inthe gods of the state, and has other new divinities of his own. Based on this statement,

Socrates is no longer popular amongst the people in the court of law since he objects that

the doings of the politicians and the jurors are indeed dishonest. Socrates further his

analogy by referring himself to as a gadfly, which is bothersome for the horses, in

which he refers the Athenian state with. Here he has justified that if there was none like

Socrates who could challenge the law and provide positive influence to the youth,

irritating as it may be to some (the gadfly) there will be no positive impact in the youths

life.

Socratess explanation of his behavior in questioning Meletus was evident in the case.Although he has no experience in the court of law, he mentioned that from a prophecy by

the Oracle at Delphi he was claimed to be the wisest man of all. In proof, he

(Chaerephon) asked the oracle to tell him whether there was anyone wiser than I was and

the Pythian prophetess answered that there was no man wiser. To fulfill his duty, he has

doubted those wise men and exposes those with false wisdom (ignorance) through

questioning Meletus at the trial. He has used the good and bad neighbor terminology; Do

not the good neighbors good and the bad do them evil? to support his defense in courtand also as hope that he could pay a fine rather than to be exiled. Despite that being

unsuccessful to the decision, Socrates warned the jury and those who voted against himthat in silencing their critic than to listen to him, they have harmed themselves much

more than they have harmed him, thus, the idea to the corrupt doing bad to their

neighbor.

Overall, Socratess quest for wisom and the instruction of others has resulted him inmartyrdom. In addition, protecting the youth in exchange of his life has showed that

Socrates is indeed a man of wisdom as he has honored his word in terms of educating the

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people of Athens by changing the corrupted perceptions of society. With his greatest

saying, the unexamined life is not worth living.