Apology (Xenophon)
The Apology of Socrates to the Jury (
Xenophon’s literary rendition of the defence of Socrates evinces the philosopher’s
The other extant primary source about the persons and events of the Trial of Socrates (399 BC) is the Apology of Socrates, by Plato.
History
The Apology of Socrates to the Jury is Xenophon’s literary contribution to the many apologia written to explain the trial of Socrates (399 BC) to the Athenian public. Each book was its author’s perceptions and interpretations of the guilty verdict against the public figure Socrates. The author Xenophon presents Socrates’s megalēgoria (boastful manner of speaking) at his trial as a tactic in his legal defense against the charges of corruption, impiety, and harming the Athenian state.[1] The principal event in the Apology of Socrates to the Jury is Socrates’s rejection of an attack upon his character by Anytus.
In 399 BC, Xenophon was serving with the Greek mercenary army of the
In the literary production of Xenophon of Athens, the final chapter of Memorabilia contains some of the apology text, which are the opening paragraphs of the Apology of Socrates to the Jury.[2][3] The textual repetitions in the books, indicate that the Apology was Xenophon’s original conclusion to the Memorabilia.[4]
Contrast with Plato's Apology of Socrates
The stylistic differences between the Socratic dialogues Apology of Socrates to the Jury, by Xenophon, and the Apology of Socrates, by Plato, is in the literary descriptions of the philosopher by the
Moreover, in Xenophon's Apology of Socrates, the philosopher's daimon (divine sign) is described as giving positive indications about what to do (12),[9] whereas the philosopher Socrates portrayed by Plato consistently and explicitly describes the daimonion as meant to "turn me away from something I am about to do", but "never encourage me to do anything".[10]
A further difference between Plato and Xenophon is that whereas Plato has Socrates finally suggest a thirty-mina penalty for himself,[11] the Xenophon/Hermogenes version says that he refused to suggest any and refused to allow his friends to do so, claiming that to do otherwise would imply guilt.[12]
Finally, whereas Socrates' willingness to face the death penalty is in Plato's Apology explained by Socrates' unwavering commitment to his divinely appointed mission to keep philosophizing at all costs,[13] it is explained in the Xenophon/Hermogenes version by the claim that it is better for him to die now than to face the pains and limitations of advanced old age.[14][15]
The accuracy of Xenophon's portrayal of Socrates has been called into question. Bertrand Russell said that if Xenophon's portrayal of Socrates was accurate he would not have been put to death. However he clarifies "some of Xenophon's reminiscences are very convincing".[16]
See also
References
- ^ Xenophon. Apology of Socrates to the Jury, 1–2
- ^ Xenophon, Apology of Socrates to the Jury, 1–8
- ^ Xenophon, Memorabilia, 4.8.1–4.8.8.
- ^ Todd, O., Xenophon IV: Memorabilia, Oeconomicus, Symposium, Apology. Harvard U. Press 1923. p. 639.
- ^ Xenophon, Apology of Socrates to the Jury, 14.
- ^ Plato, Apology of Socrates, 21a.
- ^ Burnet, John. Plato: Euthyphro, Apology of Socrates, Crito, Clarendon (1924) pp. 90–91. For "wisdom" as characteristic of atheist, natural philosophers, see Plato's Apology of Socrates 18b-c and 19c.
- ^ Xenophon, Apology of Socrates to the Jury, 16.
- ^ cf. Xenophon, Memorabilia 4.8.1.
- ^ Plato, Apology of Socrates, 31d.
- ^ Plato, Apology, 38b
- ^ Xenophon, Apology, 23
- ^ Plato, Apology, 29c-30c
- ^ Xenophon, Apology, 6-8, 27, 32
- ^ Cf. Xenophon, Memorabilia 4.8.1 and 4.8.8.
- ^ History of Western Philosophy, Bertrand Russell
External links
- Works related to Apology (Xenophon, Dakyns translation) at Wikisource
- Greek Wikisource has original text related to this article: Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους (Ξενοφών) (Greek original)
- Project Gutenberg: English translation of Xenophon's Apology: