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andrewrawr's review against another edition
3.0
While there’s not a ton by way of groundbreaking philosophy in this speech, there’s a great deal of reasoning and good demonstrations of the Socratic method. The real joy of the Apology is the beauty of the words, however, at least in my translation (that by Benjamin Jowett). Look, for instance, at the following:
“But the main body of these slanderers who from envy and malice have wrought upon you - and there are some of them who are convinced themselves, and impart their convictions to others - all these, I say, are most difficult to deal with; for I cannot have them up here, and examine them, and therefore I must simply fight with shadows in my own defence, and examine when there is no one who answers.”
The presentation of Socrates is also amusing. He presents himself as if to be humble, a man lacking in any wisdom aside from the fact that he knows he is truly lacking in wisdom, but then he’s so immeasurably arrogant about it. He not only discards politics that might be to his advantage, but then is actively a dick to everyone — often rather unnecessarily. Socrates would be an AWFUL lawyer.
Overall, it’s certainly worth a read, and it carries with it good lessons — some good people are punished not for their own sins, but for other people’s, because said good people do not let those people live without guilt. In some much more minor sense than presented here, it’s something most if not all people do throughout their lives. That, and the humility of remembering how little we know, are excellent takeaways from this speech.
“But the main body of these slanderers who from envy and malice have wrought upon you - and there are some of them who are convinced themselves, and impart their convictions to others - all these, I say, are most difficult to deal with; for I cannot have them up here, and examine them, and therefore I must simply fight with shadows in my own defence, and examine when there is no one who answers.”
The presentation of Socrates is also amusing. He presents himself as if to be humble, a man lacking in any wisdom aside from the fact that he knows he is truly lacking in wisdom, but then he’s so immeasurably arrogant about it. He not only discards politics that might be to his advantage, but then is actively a dick to everyone — often rather unnecessarily. Socrates would be an AWFUL lawyer.
Overall, it’s certainly worth a read, and it carries with it good lessons — some good people are punished not for their own sins, but for other people’s, because said good people do not let those people live without guilt. In some much more minor sense than presented here, it’s something most if not all people do throughout their lives. That, and the humility of remembering how little we know, are excellent takeaways from this speech.
josiahrichardson's review against another edition
3.0
Socrates attempted to defend his beliefs before the Athenians as Plato watched and listened. Socrates apologetic is told from the eyes and ears of Plato. It is interesting to hear, although centuries apart, how Socrates addressed the Athenians and compare it to how Paul addressed the Athenians in Acts 17.
helgamharb's review against another edition
4.0
Apologia is Plato’s account of Socrates’ self-defense speech in front of the judges who accused him of not believing in gods and corrupting the youth with his ideas.
fscott's review against another edition
4.0
I particularly enjoyed the last section of this piece. Plato’s (Socrates?) view on life and death intrigue me and inspire me to “examine” my own life to find purpose and joy in it.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
"The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways—I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows."
So, here is a guy who says that truth is worth dying for and stand by the principle till the end. The word 'apology' is used in sense of its ancient meaning 'defense'. By choosing not to ask for exile, Plato was able to establish righteousness of his ways and thus stayed true to meaning of the word philosopher - 'lover of wisdom'. He argues that we can never know anything and wisdom lies in awareness of this ignorance. Humbleness is not among his many virtues and he is not above saying (rightly enough) that society stands to lose more from his death than he himself. Besides presenting his defense, he makes a few prophecies which have all come true.
So, here is a guy who says that truth is worth dying for and stand by the principle till the end. The word 'apology' is used in sense of its ancient meaning 'defense'. By choosing not to ask for exile, Plato was able to establish righteousness of his ways and thus stayed true to meaning of the word philosopher - 'lover of wisdom'. He argues that we can never know anything and wisdom lies in awareness of this ignorance. Humbleness is not among his many virtues and he is not above saying (rightly enough) that society stands to lose more from his death than he himself. Besides presenting his defense, he makes a few prophecies which have all come true.
michinio's review against another edition
3.0
[English version below]
მრჩება შთაბეჭდილება, რომ ნამდვილი(!) ცოდნა, ჭეშმარიტი სინათლე მაინც კი არსებობს სადღაც იქ... მაგრამ ეს ცოდნა არა აქვს სოკრატეს (თუმცა მასში მაინც იგრძნობა სითბო და ნათელი), და აი ნაღდად არა აქვს პლატონს. ამ ტექსტის კითხვისას მქონდა გრძნობა, რომ თუ არსებობს კიდეც რაიმე წყარო, თუნდაც წიგნი სადაც ეს ცოდნა მოიძევება, აპოლოგია არის იმ სხვა წიგნის მე-17 გამოცემის მე-6 აპენდიქსის კომენტარებზე დამატების ინტერპრეტაციის მიმოხილვაზე ერთ-ერთ ლექცია.
ოღონდ ესაა მთლიანი აპოლოგიის მცირე ნაწილი, ხოლო ყველაფერი დანრჩენი არის ძალიან მტკიცე, კარგად არგუმენტირებული, ოსტატურად ჩამოყალიბებული ბლა-ბლა-ბლა...
The impression is that the REAL knowledge and wisdom is still somewhere there... but definitely not in Socrates (though he's bit closer) and DEFINITELY not in Plato. Because in this text I had an impression of reading the interpretation of the review of the interpretation of the comments on the addendum to the 6th appendix to the 17th revision of the other book with the real knowledge.
Anything else - very sound, well-argued, masterfully conducted bla-bla-bla...
მრჩება შთაბეჭდილება, რომ ნამდვილი(!) ცოდნა, ჭეშმარიტი სინათლე მაინც კი არსებობს სადღაც იქ... მაგრამ ეს ცოდნა არა აქვს სოკრატეს (თუმცა მასში მაინც იგრძნობა სითბო და ნათელი), და აი ნაღდად არა აქვს პლატონს. ამ ტექსტის კითხვისას მქონდა გრძნობა, რომ თუ არსებობს კიდეც რაიმე წყარო, თუნდაც წიგნი სადაც ეს ცოდნა მოიძევება, აპოლოგია არის იმ სხვა წიგნის მე-17 გამოცემის მე-6 აპენდიქსის კომენტარებზე დამატების ინტერპრეტაციის მიმოხილვაზე ერთ-ერთ ლექცია.
ოღონდ ესაა მთლიანი აპოლოგიის მცირე ნაწილი, ხოლო ყველაფერი დანრჩენი არის ძალიან მტკიცე, კარგად არგუმენტირებული, ოსტატურად ჩამოყალიბებული ბლა-ბლა-ბლა...
The impression is that the REAL knowledge and wisdom is still somewhere there... but definitely not in Socrates (though he's bit closer) and DEFINITELY not in Plato. Because in this text I had an impression of reading the interpretation of the review of the interpretation of the comments on the addendum to the 6th appendix to the 17th revision of the other book with the real knowledge.
Anything else - very sound, well-argued, masterfully conducted bla-bla-bla...