PHIL 11001 The Trial and Death of Socrates Background Socrates 469 bce 399 bce The Trial and Death of Socrates Part 1 yooth y fro Euthyphro teacher to Plato 427 bce 347 bce teacher to Aristotle 382 bce 322 bce These 3 philosophers are known as the Athenian Golden Age of Philosophy Discussion between Euthyphro and Socrates on steps of the court 3 Main Parts to discussion Socrates asking Will you teach me what is pious Euthyphro Euthyphro leading the discussion Socrates leading the discussion 1st definition of piety S Tell me what is pious and impious E What I am doing now S But that is not a definition it is just an example E What is dear to the gods is pious and what is not is impious S But Euthyphro you stated the gods often disagree So what is pious to one god may be impious to another E The pious is what ALL gods love What ALL gods hate is impious S What is the true nature of piety S All you have told me about piety is that is has the characteristic of being loved by the gods You have not told me what it is E Piety is concerned with the care of the gods S But the gods don t need our care E So it s really a kind of service to the gods S Piety is knowledge of how to give to and beg from the gods S Piety is trading between the gods and men S So the pious is what is dear to the gods 6th definition 7th definition 2nd definition 4th definition 5th definition 3rd definition Part 2 Apology Socrates IS NOT apologizing for his actions Apology is the Greek word for Defense Apology is divided into 3 sections Section 1 Intro historical background margin 17 24b This is Socrates first time in court age 70 Charges against Socrates 1 Corrupting the youth 2 Impiety Believing in false gods Socrates distinguishes himself from Sophists traveling teachers who charge a fee Oracle said Socrates was the wisest Socrates wondered if this was a riddle searched for answer start of his philosophic journey Socrates speculated that true wisdom was knowing what one does not know Socrates started to question 3 groups of people 1 Politicians 2 Poets 3 Craftsman Accusers 1 Meletus on behalf of the poets 2 Anytus on behalf of the craftsmen the politicians 3 Lycon on behalf of the orators Section 2a Cross Examination of Meletus on charge of corrupting the youth margin 24b 26b Socrates asks who helps educate and improve young men Meletus responds everyone except Socrates Socrates argues that if he corrupted young men it was unwillingly Socrates argues Meletus should not have brought charges against him because it was not intentional Section 2b Cross Examination of Meletus on charge of impiety 26b 28b Socrates asks if Meletus believes Socrates is an atheist Meletus says yes Meletus acknowledges that Socrates believes in spirits and spirits are gods Socrates argues that he should not be charged for impiety because Meletus admits that Socrates does in fact believe in gods spirits Section 3 Pre Vote Oration 28c 35d teachings that he would not stop Socrates says that even if he were told that he would be acquitted only if he stopped his Socrates asks the jury how they honored him for standing his ground in battle but expect him to give in now gadfly horsefly would so Socrates says the god s sent him to Athens to wake up sluggish horse Athens as a Socrates stated that he will not beg the jury to acquit him because it is beneath him to do After voting Meletus proposes death Socrates proposes free meals for life since he served a valuable purpose for Athens Socrates then suggests a 30 mina fine about 3 months wages Socrates The unexamined life is not worth living margin 38 good quote to know Socrates states that if the jury had just waited then he would have probably died of old age Part 3 Crito Setting Prison Jail Early in the morning Characters Crito person Intro margin 43 44 Socrates The Laws of Athens a personification of the laws as though they were a Crito wakes Socrates up with the intention to break him out of jail Crito s arguments for wanting Socrates to leave the jail margin 44c 46 Crito and friends reputations Don t worry about us being caught Don t worry about the money You can go live elsewhere What you are doing is unjust You are doing exactly what your enemies want You are abandoning your sons You are taking the easy way out Everyone will think your friends are cowards Socrates Let s examine this issue with care margin 46b 49d Socrates The most important thing is not life but the good life to know margin 48b good quote Socrates So how should we act margin 49e 50 If the laws of Athens were here and could speak what would they say Arguments by the laws of Athens argued by Socrates margin 50 50b Your parents were married under Athenian law and you Socrates were born and raised under those laws You were educated under the laws of Athens We the laws are like your parents The laws deserve your respect and obedience even more than your parents You could have left at anytime Socrates but you choose to stay By staying you agreed to obey the laws of Athens If you leave now no other city will trust you to obey their laws And you will be proving that the jury was at least partially correct Crito doesn t argue against the laws arguments Perhaps we as the reader are charged with finding valid arguments against the laws Part 4 Phaedo Death Scene Socrates is very calm and matter of fact about his impending death Socrates jailer is emotional having formed an attachment to Socrates during his time in jail Socrates advises the jailer to have someone bring the poison Hemlock Crito says there is no hurry wait until sunset Socrates says there is no benefit to waiting Socrates asks if he should offer a libation a small portion of the drink in honor of his hosts the slave states there isn t enough poison to allow for that Socrates said a prayer and drank the Hemlock calmly and easily Crito and the others began to openly weep Socrates says that he sent the women away to avoid such unseemliness the men collected themselves and stopped crying The poison took hold Socrates lay down and died
View Full Document
Unlocking...