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Apology | Plato, Aeterna Press

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Apology | Plato, Aeterna Press

If you think that by killing men you can prevent some one from censuring your evil lives, you are mistaken; that is not a way of escape which is either possible or honourable; the easiest and the noblest way is not to be disabling others, but to be improving yourselves.

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Apology | Plato, Aeterna Press

pick

May I just give massive respect to the man who was going to be condemned to death but said don't kill me for my sake but for your own.

This was a stunning read, especially the last 20% of it or so. Magnificent.

"The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our waysâ€”I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows."

#serialreader

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Apology | Plato, Aeterna Press

I am better off than he is,â€”for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows; I neither know nor think that I know.

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Malisa

pan

âï¸âï¸
Meh

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wanderinglynn

#QuotsyApril18 | April 17: champion

TK-421

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FaDii

"Sometimes apology don't works" Plato.

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I‘m going to start with this question which is fairly simple but can take many roads of discussion in different directions. I will post more through out the dayðŸ“–â¤ï¸ðŸ™Œ. #philosophytalk. #TheApology

Suelizbeth That statement deals in absolutes and there are no absolutes. 7y

Redwritinghood It supposes that Socrates has a lot of influence in the town, but, if that‘s the case, why is he on trial? 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Suelizbeth @Redwritinghood I saw it as an incorrect accusation because it‘s a blanket statement that assumes every man was influenced somehow by Socrates and that all the men of Athens would become fine men. I think both your statements touch upon this same idea. I see the trial as a political movement. To rid the town of someone who will cause others to question their government and its values. Do you see it as a political move ? (edited) 7y

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batsy @JoeStalksBeck @Redwritinghood @Suelizbeth I missed this but I agree. How does one man corrupt them all equally and in the same way. I do see it as particularly political. Socrates mentions an incident in the past when he was a Councillor where he claims he would have been put to death for defying the law, but was saved because of a change in government. So I guess he's a thorn in the side of all governments. 7y

Yellowpigeon @batsy @Suelizbeth @Redwritinghood, I saw it in conjunction with his other comment, that all men improve them and one individual corrupts them. If the sum total of Athens goodness can be brought down by the influence of one man, are they really good? Is their influence really that great? By convicting him, they convict themselves... To powerlessness at least. 7y

batsy @Yellowpigeon Yes, that's a great point. 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Yellowpigeon @batsy @suelizbeth @redwritinghood If the sum total of Athens can be brought down by the influence of one man. Are they really good? He states his argument from the ignorant saying that there is no one on the jury he has corrupted (501 men) . The burden of proof is on the prosecution to show he corrupted the men of Athens. Is there proof he corrupted them? (edited) 7y

batsy From what I hope I understood ðŸ˜, Socrates doesn't interpret his work as corruption so much as a divine service, I believe. To remain unquestioning is to have a false existence. Plato and others vouch for his moral influence on them. If he corrupted the youth, they are then capable of corrupting others due to his bad influence, but no one who brings the charges against him wants to own up to that. 7y

Yellowpigeon @batsy @Suelizbeth @Redwritinghood, I agree with batsy. There are two questions mixed as one. First, if Socrates is such an obvious bad influence, there would be one person he had harmed. And Meletus did not bring anyone who was harmed himself or whose family member was harmed. Second, what is corruption? Every innovation is viewed as a corruption, Like I can no longer write worth a damn because I'm always typing â¬‡ï¸ 7y

Yellowpigeon But I can talk to friends all over the world at the drop of a hat. Am I corrupted? Sure, yeah, whatever. Is it worth it, YES! But I bet there is someone out there decrying computers and their effect on cursive. (edited) 7y

JoeStalksBeck @nasty @Yellowpigeon I don‘t think Socrates sees his questioning as a divine service. In fact I see it as the opposite. The Oracle said he was the wisest so Socrates questioned her by questioning others around him for wisdom . To find ssomeone wiser than him. So let me ask you, to remain unquestioning is a a false existence, what does that mean exactly? Unquestioning of what? @Yellowpigeon ahhh now we get to definition!ðŸ‘‡ðŸ» (edited) 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Yellowpigeon what is corruption? What is wisdom? What is ignorance? Since no definition has an absolute answer that everyone would agree on how can you even begin to solve this? To first find the words that can be agreed upon for the use of the accusations brought against Socrates? 7y

Yellowpigeon I think that was the entire point of the questioning that brought him to this point. Someone said that he was wise. He asked what is wisdom and how could we even tell. He gets pointed to someone who is wise but can find blind spots in their thinking. Which pisses them off. To me, an unquestioned life is one where you are not searching our your own blind spots and gaps in your knowledge. 7y

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batsy

pick

#apologyreadalong Tried to stay up late last night to finish my Phil reading before the quiz today ? Fell asleep. Clearly not made of the same youthful stuff of the past. #nomoreallnighters

Socrates doesn't have to convince me. I'm #teamSocrates. Everyone else, pretending to know everything, sounds awful. This time I'm more appreciative of his barbs directed at statesmen & "learned" men. I'm all for the everyman philosopher. @JoeStalksBeck

JoeStalksBeck Oh I‘m posting tomorrow night! I‘m sorry! 7y

Tamra Taking a Political Phil grad class and this week covered Plato & Aristotle. My atrophied brain ached, unused to the language of the dialogues and then the textbook we're reading isn't much better. ðŸ˜¥I don't know whether to feel vindicated or worried that my low opinion of human nature isn't new. ðŸ˜– 7y

Natasha.C.Barnes Good luck!! Which dialogues are you reading? Besides the Meno which has a special place in my heart, I think my favorite is the Phaedrus, because you get to talk about black and white horses and all that. ðŸ˜‰ 7y

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Natasha.C.Barnes Oh lol -the apology! Missed that. 7y

Izai.Amorim What would Socrates say about Derrida? 7y

batsy @JoeStalksBeck Not at all! It's just that it's already Monday here so I felt better getting it done with ðŸ˜ 7y

batsy @Izai.Amorim He'd feed Derrida the hemlock himself! Lol. I'm sorry, I never got on with the big D. 7y

batsy @Natasha.C.Barnes Haha yeah, we are starting with the Apology for our Litsy philosophy chat :) I remember having read the Meno but don't recall anything about it! ðŸ™ˆ I do want to go through the whole book in time, it was very interesting to reread this. I'm excited about the horses! ðŸ˜€ 7y

batsy @Tamra Yeah, I think the style of the translation will affect the experience. Also the prof and the class discussions! My atrophied brain was struggling when I read this too, and I resolved to try and dip and out of more challenging reading material more often. ðŸ˜‚ Your class sounds interesting; I hope it is! â˜ºï¸ 7y

batsy @Natasha.C.Barnes @tamra Also to clarify, I was joking around and realised I didn't explain properly ... Not taking a class, but this was for our Litsy discussion ðŸ˜€ which makes me feel like I'm back in uni. Fun! 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Natasha.C.Barnes Meno is my favorite of his! 7y

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Redwritinghood

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#apologyreadalong #thinktank In The Apology, Socrates warns that an unexamined life is not worth living. Unfortunately, he didn‘t foresee that such examination makes some uncomfortable and/or humiliated resulting in them bringing trumped up charges against you and calling for your death! Looking forward to the discussion.

JoeStalksBeck I took a philosophy class in college that compared this ideA with the idea of Jesus. It was very interesting! 7y

Redwritinghood @JoeStalksBeck That‘s a good observation. What‘s funny is in the Ibsen play I saw last night, the protagonist also compares himself to Jesus as he was the only one to face the truth. Serendipity! 7y

JoeStalksBeck Wow! That is serendipitous! How neat! 7y

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Suelizbeth

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Well. O.K. I‘m finished. This is my first dive into this kind of reading. Looking forward to discussing this with @JoeStalksBeck

JoeStalksBeck Yay!! â¤ï¸ðŸ“– 7y

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Caroline2

Looking forward to the read along! ðŸ‘ðŸ»

JoeStalksBeck I was working on questions last night to post on Monday ! 7y

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#thinktank

Avanders Oh man it's been so many years since I read that.. will look foreword to your discussion! 7y

Caterina I've read this in the original Ancient Greek! Not my favorite by Plato, but still good. :) I look forward to y'all's discussion! 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Avanders @Caterina thanks!!! ðŸ“–â¤ï¸ðŸ™Œ 7y

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Caroline2 Count me in! ðŸ‘ðŸ» 7y

JoeStalksBeck Yay! It‘s a quick read. I‘ll post questions on Monday to discuss â¤ï¸ðŸ“– 7y

Suelizbeth I‘ve not progressed past the translator‘s lengthy introduction, so I hope the actual text holds my attention as much as the intro has. I‘m learning that I need to learn more. 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Suelizbeth this one is so short and sort of convoluted but a great lesson. I‘d really to dive into Thus Spoke Zarathustra, The Myth Of Sisyphus, or Descartes Meditations( which is absolutely amazing) the Matrix movie was based on it and Socrates 7y

Suelizbeth @JoeStalksBeck Get out! The Matrix is one of my all time favorite movies! I had no idea. 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Suelizbeth lmao! Yes it is. Get the book The Philosophy of The Matrix and it tells you all about . We should read The Meditations then ! So you can see it in the movie! 7y

Suelizbeth @JoeStalksBeck Yessssssss!!! I will definitely get/read The Philosophy of the Matrix and The Meditations. This is geek heaven. 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Suelizbeth lol! Awesome!! I‘d like to read them with you if that‘s ok 7y

Suelizbeth @JoeStalksBeck Yes, please. They can be part of this philosophy rotation. Fit them into the schedule however you see fit and let me know when we‘ll be reading them. Does that work? 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Suelizbeth sounds amazing! 7y

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Suelizbeth

Another readalong beginning October 1st? Sure, why not. It‘s a short one. #ApologyReadAlong

Krisjericho @Ross You should follow them! I bet the discussions will be great. 7y

Krisjericho Ha! I probably should have commented on the original post. I'll go tag you in that one. Oops! @Ross 7y

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Starting October 1st I am doing a philosophy read along to Platos Apology . It's a quick read with many implications that are sure to make you think. I love this book that @Redwritinghood has chosen! I hope you will join us! #ApologyReadAlong there is a copy on Amazon for kindle that is freeðŸ™Œ

Caroline2 Oh yay!!! Count me in! ðŸ™‹ðŸ» 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Caroline2 yay!!ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ 7y

batsy All the best reads are happening in October! ðŸ˜† I'm going to try to join in! 7y

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JoeStalksBeck @batsy yay! I hope you can! 7y

Suelizbeth Another readalong that begins October 1st? Yes, please! Overbooked? Is that even a thing? 7y

Krisjericho This is the one I should have tagged you in, @Ross 7y

quietlycuriouskate Studying Plato's "Protagoras" twenty years ago was a wretched experience and philosophy is really not my thing... but I'm willing to give it one more try. 7y

JoeStalksBeck @Suelizbeth lol yes! 7y

JoeStalksBeck @River_Voice lol! Oh dear! Maybe just wrong study group ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜‰ 7y

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GoneFishing

I thought to myself: I am wiser than this man; neither of us probably knows anything that is really good, but he thinks he has knowledge, when he has not, while I, having no knowledge, do not think I have.

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GoneFishing