Plato, The Apology

Plato, The Apology

Socrates’ investigation to find who really has wisdom, or knowledge of justice

• In his search to find someone wiser than him after being told by the Oracle that no one is wiser than him, he asked politicians and craftsmen. And yet, they thought they were wiser but were not, for they claimed to be wiser than they actually were. Socrates realizes he was wiser because he knows he knows nothing. 

  • True wisdom = Awareness of one’s ignorance.

• Examples of Socrates prioritizing justice over political obligation, both under the
  The rule of the Thirty Tyrants:
  The Athenian democracy:

• The rule of the Thirty Tyrants:  When Socrates was working for a group of oligarchs, they ordered him to bring an innocent person to face punishment. Socrates refused because he prioritized justice. 

• The Athenian democracy: During one of the Athenians trial where Socrates was on the jury for a case involving 10 generals who fought during the Peloponnesian War. Socrates refused to go with the majority because he believed he could have been wrongfully tried by those generals. 

Evidence of Athens’ injustice and corruption.

Socrates’ three criticisms of democratic Athens

1. Democracy is unjust in imposing the tyranny of the majority. 51% of the population can violate 49% rights of the population. 

2. A democratic majority makes decisions based on emotion and sophistry rather than reason.

3. Democratic majorities involve the rule of the ignorant led by demagogues.

Philosophy works as a “gadfly” that reminds democracy of justice.

• Meaning: Philosophers remind the people of how the government is acting unjustly. They are more of a wakeup call to the public when the government is not acting accordingly. 

• The examined, philosophical life is crucial to discovering the meaning of justice and holding ourselves up to it.