Socrates “The Apology” Response

1. How does Socrates come across to you?

Socrates comes across to me as someone who believes they are being wrongly accused. He seems much more clever than any of his three accusers based on the way he interrogates them. I think Plato portrayed Socrates this way because Plato was a friend and student of Socrates and wanted the people to know that he was being wrongly accused of a crime. It also would have shown the people how biased and corrupt their government was by sentencing a man to death with no evidence of a crime.

2. Who are Socrates opponents and what are they accusing him of?

Socrates opponents are Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon, their quarrell is on behalf of the poets, the craftsmen, and the rhetoricians. These three men believed themselves each to be very wise based on what they have created and Socrates offended them by saying that if you think you think you are wise, you have just proven the opposite.

3. What does Socrates value?

Socrates was a man who valued truth and knowledge based on his arguments with his three accusers. He also demands justice, even if it resulted in his death.

4. What did the oracle mean about Socrates being the wisest man?

I think when the oracle said Socrates was the wisest man, they didnt necessarily mean the smartest or the most clever, but that he had humility. Although he was a philosopher, he did not think he was very smart, and i think for this reason the oracle proclaimed him the wisest for the other educated men such as the craftsmen and the poets were arrogant enough to think themselves wise men.