Plato Essay

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Plato’s Apology Socrates thought of himself as “most ignorant”, which is why it was such a surprise to him to find out that when a friend of his went to a Delphic Oracle and asked the priestess, “Who is the wisest of mortals?” The priestess replied that Socrates was the wisest of mortals. Since Socrates was surprised by this he went out to prove the Oracle wrong and questioned many whom were thought to be wiser than he and questioned them. He questioned everyone from poets, politicians and craftsmen. Each time Socrates questioned someone that many thought were wiser than he that person made a claim that they had some kind of wisdom or absolute knowledge of value. Socrates then realized why the Oracle said he was most wise because he knew that he did not have this wisdom. Those that thought they did do not at all because it is only the God who is truly wise and Human wisdom is basically worthless. “The wisest amongst you, human beings, is anyone like Socrates who has recognized that with respect to wisdom he is truly worthless.” (23b) Socrates is separated from most because he does not claim to have a knowledge of value, he is not ignorant of his ignorance. Socrates first defends himself against Meletus’ charge of corrupting the youth by bringing him into question in front of the court. He proves Meletus wrong by showing how he cannot be the only person that is corrupting the youth while others improve the youth. On account that Meletus says Socrates is one of these trainers of the youth, and alike that there are few horse-trainers there are few trainers of the youth. And those that are not horse-trainers would not improve the horse and likewise with the youth. Then he goes on to disprove his voluntarily harming the youth because if he were to do that purposefully then he too would be harming himself. And no rational person would harm them self.
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