Lecture Outline for Clas 270, Dec. 2, 1998

Chronology of Peloponnesian War and aftermath

• 431-21 First phase of war, ends in truce.
• 415 Athens sends an expedition to attack Syracuse in Sicily.
• 412 Athenian fleet and army destroyed.
• 406 Athenian naval victory at Arginusae followed by putting commanders to death.
• 404 Sparta wins, gives power to conservative aristocrats. These persuade the Spartans to force the Athenian assembly to appoint 30 people to write a new constitution. These 30 seize power, are known as the 30 tyrants. They begin killing off enemies.
• 403 The 30 tyrants are defeated and driven out. Amnesty is declared and the democracy is restored.
• 399 Trial of Socrates.

Socrates: "The unexamined life is not worth living."

1. Why was he on trial?
1. Made too many Athenians uncomfortable?
2. For political reasons?
1. Some of the 30 tyrants were associates of Socrates, e.g. Critias.
2. Direct attack ruled out because of the amnesty, so a vague charge was made.
3. For religious reasons? As atheist?
2. Who was he?
1. Born in 370.
2. Was personally remarkable.
1. Had tremendous self-control in all matters of the body.
2. Was (we are told) unshakeable in battle.
3. Was emotionally independent.
3. Made others give an account of their lives.
4. Was an optimist, persisted in patient challenges to the young.
5. Favored democracy (I think) but critical of all authority.
3. Beliefs.
1. Virtue consists of justice, courage, piety, temperance, wisdom.
1. Wisdom is the key; the others are applied wisdom.
2. Virtue is knowledge like craft-knowledge, i.e. knowing how to do something.
3. Lack of virtue is a kind of ignorance. "No one does wrong willingly."
2. God(s) have wisdom and virtue.
3. Socrates does not have wisdom, i.e., does not know how virtue operates.
4. Socrates does know his lack of wisdom.
1. He approaches wisdom by testing beliefs for consistency.
2. Inconsistent beliefs make one unhappy.
1. Fear is a belief about pain or death.
2. Ambition is a belief that money/power will make one happy.
5. Socrates knows what his priorities are.
1. Between wisdom and unconscious confusion is self-knowledge.
2. This is "human knowledge."
6. Care for the soul (self-knowledge) is the most important human task.
1. The unexamined life is not worth living.
2. One cannot justify doing harm to others.

The Apology: Socrates' speech in defence as his trial.

1. Key to understanding other dialogues.
2. Socrates answers older charges.
1. Distinguishes himself from those interested in science (pp. 22-24).
1. Aristophanes makes him into a "scientist."
2. Scientists were thought to be atheists.
2. Distinguishes himself from the sophists.
1. Describes an interchange with Callias (p. 24).
2. Explains his wisdom (pp. 25-26).
3. Socrates examines others (pp. 26ff.).
1. Shows that they contradict themselves.
2. Difficult to distinguish from competition and put-down.
3. Socrates does not acknowledge that the young men may follow his technique with intent to humiliate others.
3. Socrates turns to the current charges (p. 29).
1. Meletus does not know anything about training the young.
2. Meletus says that Socrates is an atheist, also that Socrates introduces new gods.
4. Socrates defends his way of life (p. 34ff.).
1. Homeric idea of the heroic glory is applied to living with moral integrity.
2. Socrates is a great benefit to the city.
1. The Athenians will hurt themselves more than him if they punish him.
2. They will not find another to replace him.
3. Stories about Socrates' contacts with politics (p. 37ff.).
1. He will not do wrong.
2. His sympathies were not with the Thirty Tyrants.
3. Putting people to death arbitraryily is typical of tyrants, not democracy.
3. Justice is not a favor that the jurors hand out.
5. Socrates is found guilty (p. 42).
1. Must propose an alternative punishment to the one proposed by the prosecution.
2. Refuses to abandon self-knowledge.
6. Socrates is condemned to death (p. 45). Did his prophecy come true in Plato?