Plato's Apology Lecture Series

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, people, concepts, and argumentative strategies discussed across Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the lectures on Plato's Apology.

Unofficial Charges

Old, false rumors accusing Socrates of studying the physical world, making weak arguments seem strong, and teaching these tricks to others.

Natural Philosophers

Early Greek thinkers who studied nature and how the physical universe works, long before Socrates.

Sophists

Greek teachers for hire who taught rhetoric and how to make weak arguments seem strong.

Caraphon (Chaerephon)

A friend of Socrates who asked the Oracle at Delphi if anyone was wiser than Socrates.

Pythia

The priestess at Delphi who stated that no one was wiser than Socrates.

Apollo

The Greek god of wisdom and reason who Socrates believed commanded him to question citizens and reveal their ignorance.

Socratic Wisdom

Recognizing and admitting that you do not know what you do not know.

Official Charges

accusations of corrupting the youth and (impiety).

Meletus (Melitos)

The primary accuser whose contradictory charges were exposed by Socrates at trial.

Elenchus

The Socratic method of questioning used to reveal ignorance.

Reductio ad absurdum

An argument strategy that disproves a claim by showing it leads to a contradiction.

Eleatics

An early Greek school of philosophy, including Parmenides and Zeno, that developed the reductio argument strategy.

Care of the Soul

The goal of valuing wisdom and truth rather than wealth and reputation.

Gadfly Metaphor

Socrates comparing himself to a biting insect sent to awaken and challenge the citizens of Athens through questioning.

Daimon (Daemon)

An inner divine voice that warned Socrates not to do unwise things.

"The unexamined life is not worth living"

Socrates' statement that a human life has no true value without questioning and reflecting on how we live.