ENGL 298 B: Intermediate Writing Social Sciences   Autumn 2011, University of Washington

Two words that stood out to me within the texts of Apology and Crito are defense and corruption. Defense is a key term within the text of Apology because it has a multi-faceted meaning. I think that Plato believes that Socrates defends his method more than himself. Socrates is indeed defending himself, but more importantly he is defending his method. Socrates could have easily fabricated a defense for himself that would have gotten him off, but he chose to stick to his Socratic method and claim that he knew nothing of court manors, claiming “I show myself not to be an accomplished speaker at all, that I thought was most shameless on their part-unless indeed they call an accomplished speaker the man who speaks the truth.” (21b). Socrates chooses to make an example of the court by “defending” his actions through question and admitted know-nothings, and that eventually leads to his downfall.

Corruption plays a key role in the text as well. To Plato, I believe that the word corruption has an entirely different meaning, and that in reality this trial is more corrupting than Socrates’ teachings. Socrates is on trial for allegedly “corrupting” the youth of Athens by prompting them to question what knowledge they possess and the society in which they find themselves in. He is also charged for speaking against the Gods and attempting to thwart religious belief in Athens. However, Socrates defends himself by claiming that the sort of “corruption” he is spreading is simply education and the pursuit of knowledge through conversation. The literal charge brought up against Socrates is “guilty of corrupting the young and of not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other new spiritual things.” (27c). Socrates is fully aware of the “corruption” he has inflicted but chooses to defend himself by stating that he merely pointed out the flaws in others thinking.