SOCRATES: ANGKOP SA TAO 

- when socrates was 70 years old 

- he almost died because of accusations 

- he faced court with around 500 citizens (ONLY MEN) 

- We will be studying the Apology of Socrates based on Plato’s account 

  • Apology not as in “sorry” but DEFENSE 

“Taos at taimtim kong hinihiling sa inyo, kapuwa ko mamamayan, na kung marinig ninyong ipinagtanggol ko ang aking sarili sa uri ng pananalita na nakaugalian kong gamitin sa plasa at sa mga lamesa ng bangkero—diyan ako narinig ng marami sainyo – o sa ibang lugar, huwag kayong magugulat, huwag manggugulo dahil dito 

- based on this text, we can see the character of Socrates 

- because he is a philosopher, people are assuming that he’ll be using technical and big terms. However, you can see here that the truth is the only thing that is important 

- Socrates does not need to cover up his intelligence with hyphenating terms whatsoever. The way he talks on a regular basis already shows his intelligence 


“Sila ang naging guro ng karamihan sa inyo mula pa sa noong musmos kayo; binigyan niya ng anyong kapanipaniwala ang mga binebentang bintang nila sakin—na wala namang katotohanan.”

- he questions the credibility of those who put him in trial (isn’t that ad hominem? LOL) 

- do those who are questioning him have credibility? 

- since they are questioning him, edi questioned them LOL 

- those who are questioning him are teachers and are Sophist ??? 

- the Sophists during that time are mastering the art of persuasion 

Ang habla ni Meletos

- What are the accusations to socrates? 

1. Poisoning the mind of the youth

- tinuturuan niya ang kabataan ng mga masasamang ugali 


2. He does not recognize the Gods that the people are praising, at mayroon pang kinikilalang bagong makadaimon 


- it’s ironic because Meletos is the one accusing Socrates but Socrates has to prove that he is not at fault (instead of Meletos proving that socrates is at fault) 

- burden of proof? 

- when Meletos couldn’t give evidence, tumahimik nalang siya 

- Uso na rin pala noong araw ang “I invoke my right against self incrimination” 

- Socrates calls this “sabi-sabi ng madla” 

  • Opinyon vs. Katotohanan

  • Doxa (hindi totoo) vs. Epistimé (truth) 


- listening to Doxa or the opinion of the public is a dangerous vice 


Kontra-Sosyal

- socrates was critical of the abuse ng mga mamayaman noong panhood niya

- the rich were being taught by the Sophists (who were being paid by A LOT) 

- inuutusan ang mga kabataang mayayaman na huwag makihalubilo sa mahihirap 

- rich people who are gastosing a lot of money to send their children to good universities so that one day they’ll be abusive and would not care for others (elitists)


Why is Socrates being tried? 

- Saan nagsimula ito?

- Given that he is the smartest and most moral person during his time? 

- Let us remember that hindi si Socrates ang nag declare na marunong siya because for him, he is stupid 

  • The oracle of delphi stated that he is the smartest 

  • But socrates does not believe it

  • According to socrates, “all I know, is I know nothing” (real gagi)  (KAYA NAGKAROON NG SOCRATIC METHOD KAYA HE KEPT ASKING INANGYAN) 

- because of this, he approached the people na may “mukhang alam” so that he can prove the Oracle wrong 

-  for ex. He went to euthyphro, a self proclaimed expert in piety 

  • One day, they met in Arcon, and Socrates asked Euthyphro “how to be good?” 

  • Euthypro answered that you need to know how to pray. So Socrates asked, “Is that the definition of piety?” because prayer and piety don’t align 

- as he spoke to the people na may “mukhang alam,” he found out that they actually know NOTHING and there are a lot of people who (matatalino, mayayaman, at maimpluwensya) ang nagagalit sakanya

  • The bad thing about this, despite the fact that socrates was able to prove them wrong, malakas pa din ang loob nilang continue ang kanilang nakasanayang pamantayan (FAMILIARRRR) 


“Pagkatapos nito, pinaghali-halili ko ang aking mga pagdalaw, at nadama ko, at ako’y natakot, na marami ang mga may poot sa akin, ngunit, sa aking paningin, hindi ko maiwasang gumawa sa karamihan ng ayos sa diyos—dapat akong lumakad, nag-uusisa sa winka ng diyos—ano ang kahulugan? — sa lahat ng mga nag-aanyong may alam.” 

- even if someone gets mad at you, you shouldn’t compromise the truth just so you’re accepted

- will you compromise the truth just so you have a lot of friends? 

- this is called “ang pagsunod sa katotohanan” 

  • A person acting based on truth does not get scared of hate from the majority 

- para saan ba ang pagsunod sa katotohanan? 

- what is philosophy for? One does not get rich because of this 


- this is the criticism of Socrates to the youth who are namimilosopiya 

  • The youth are following the footsteps of socrates of continuously questioning 

  • But when they discovered that what they’ll learn here is that they actually know thing, they betrayed him

  • This is similar to our time now, for us, those who are smart are those with high grades. BUT one’s pagkatao should still be accounted for. 

  • Para saan naman ang hanapbuhay kung maisasantabi naman ang kahulugan ng buhay? RIL 

  • For socrates, ang tanong na mahalaga sa isang nagpapakatao ay tungkol sa katarungan 


- in truth, this trial is actually a trap for socrates 

  • Parang gustong sabihin ng mga tao: “Papalayanin ka namin, Pero ititigil mo na an giyong pananaliksik. Ititigil mo na ang iyong pamimilosopiya!” 

  • This is unacceptable for socrates 


 “Basta’t meron pa akong hininga, basta’t meron pa ako, walang titigal akong mamimilosopiya, magbibigay ng payo sainyo; matatagpuan ninyo ako sa aking dating anyo. Maririnig ninyo ang aking mga palaging sinasabi.” 

- For socrates, the truth should not be compromised 

- Walang kumpurmiso ang pagtalimo sa totoo


“Hindi sa kwarta nanggagaling ang tunay na kabutihan; bagkus mula sa tunay na kabutihan ang kwarta, at lahat ng iba, ay nagiging mabuti sa tao, sa buhay, at pansarili at pangbayan.” 

- this is the teaching of Socrates 

- and for the people, he is poisoning the minds of the youth #MedyoBadBoy (ANOOOO??? BAAHAHAHAHA) 



“Kapuwa mamamayan, sundan man ninyo si Anytos o hindi, pakawalan man ninyo ako o hindi, hindi ko babaguhin ang aking mga ginagawa, kahit na paulit-ulit pa akong mamatay.” 

- socrates sees great value in following the truth 

- what is the value of following the truth? 


SOCRATIC IRONY OF SOCRATES - ALAM NA HINDI ALAM (ulul) 

- why is the life of socrates ironic? 

- alam na hindi alam 

- when he was being tried, 

- parati raw may “bangaw” si socrates 

- he always comments

- however, walang masama sa pagkoment. Especially when this corrects the incorrect. This is called CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM 

  • The goal of criticism is not to break society, but to make it better, more complete 

  • BUT society is not ready for a person that will “critique” it 

- ang isang person of government that is not open to commentary are like the “sophists.” – sarado ang isipan  

- socrates knows that he is stupid and he needs the truth 

- Socrates is not prescriptive, he is DESCRIPTIVE. He points out what is wrong 

- He is not the truth, but he follows what is right and true. 

- Socrates is “woke” and admits that he is lacking. But he never admits that he know everything 

  • Sa pag amin niya na hindi siya marunong ay hindi manggaling sa kadiliman ng hindi pagkaunawa

  • Galing ito sa liwanag ng pagka-unawa 

  • He knows that he does not know anything so he finds more ways to know more 

  • The more he knows, the more he knows that he does not know a lot