An In-depth Examination of Ethical Philosophy in Plato's Apology

This essay provides an analysis of the ethical philosophy presented in Plato's Apology. It explores Socrates' defense against the accusations of impiety and corrupting the youth, highlighting his unwavering commitment to truth and justice. The essay examines Socrates' philosophical principles, including his assertion of ignorance as a path to wisdom, his prioritization of ethical conduct over life itself, and his dedication to the pursuit of truth above all else. It delves into Socrates' views on death, emphasizing the importance of living a virtuous life and the acceptance of the unknown. The paper references key sources and provides a comprehensive overview of the ethical framework that makes Plato's Apology a cornerstone of philosophical thought. The essay also examines the key arguments and rhetorical strategies employed by Socrates in his defense, illustrating how he challenged conventional beliefs and promoted critical thinking among the people of Athens.

Running head: ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY IN PLATO’S APOLOGY
ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY IN PLATO’S APOLOGY
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1ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY IN PLATO’S APOLOGY
Plato’s Apology is a speech that Socrates makes at his hearing, where he was charged
with the allegations of not acknowledging the gods, which the state did and corrupting the
nation’s youth. This paper is focused at understanding the heart of the speech that is the ethical
philosophy that makes it a masterpiece in itself.
Though it is labelled as “Plato’s Apology”, it is by no means an apology. The name
stemmed from the Greek word “apologia” that means defense. Therefore, the speech is made by
Socrates in order to defend himself from the allegations on his conduct and not to apologize for
it. In the speech, Socrates states that his behaviour is in accordance to the prophecy made by the
oracle at Delphi that asserted that he was the most learned men of all (Classics.mit.edu). What
makes Socrates’ philosophy interesting and worth noting, is his acceptance that he is ignorant
and that in turn makes him wise than other men. The ethical principles and the philosophy of
Socrates makes the speech a stroke of genius (Jonas). In the speech, Socrates ponders upon his
willingness to still pursue his string of philosophical thoughts and inquiry when that is the sole
reason of people’s displeasure against him and has put his life in danger. His answer justifies his
great philosophy where he says that when a person is performing any action, then the only
relevant question that one should be concerned about is that his actions are right or not. He says
that justice should be given more importance than life and death, as constantly thinking about life
is selfish and unimportant (Taylor). Recognizing the fact that one’s life is uncertain and no one
has any idea about what will happen after death, is vital for survival and happiness in life.
Therefore, having a fear of death is false wisdom and a way of declaring to comprehend the
incomprehensible.
In another instance of his exceptional moral and ethical views on philosophy, Socrates
gives priority to find truth and perfect his soul in that process. According to him, it would be

2ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY IN PLATO’S APOLOGY
wrong to disobey Apollo, the Sun God, and stop philosophizing therefore; he would be foolish to
work on something that he knows is wrong because of the fear for the unknown. This is a strong
message for those individuals who keep working and engaging in unethical activities for
survival. Death is inevitable and accepting that it is the ultimate truth of life will help people in
doing what is right, lead a life of happiness, and enrich their souls (Kondo).
Thus, Socrates in his speech has portrayed his ideas on philosophy and ethical principles
in a remarkable way. He passionately defends his philosophy of life and as a result, he helps the
people of Athens to overcome ignorance and gain wisdom. His emphasis on realizing that a man
is ignorant is the only way one can gain wisdom is a marvelous approach. Thus, this aspect of
Plato’s apology is the most interesting of all.

3ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY IN PLATO’S APOLOGY
References
Classics.mit.edu. "The Internet Classics Archive | Apology By Plato". Classics.Mit.Edu, 2020,
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html.
Jonas, Mark E. "Three misunderstandings of Plato's theory of moral education." Educational
Theory 66.3 (2016): 301-322.
Kondo, Kazutaka. "Socrates’ Rhetorical Strategy in Plato’s Apology." Athens Journal of
Humanities & Arts 1.4 (2014): 323-333.
Taylor, Christopher. "The ethics of Plato’s apology." Ancient Ethics (2014): 107.