History Literature / ApologyOfSocrates

Apart from being one of the oldest examples of the LawProcedural genre in history, it is an important ethical work, discussing the significance of truth in ethics and the real meaning of death. Although, as with all dialogues written by Plato, it is debatable in what degree it describes the historical Socrates instead of being an AuthorTract, it is usually acknowledged to be one of the earliest Plato's texts, which means there is a good chance that the Socrates from ''Apology'' expresses his own views (in the latter case it may be the case when ShamingTheMob did not work). The fact that other authors wrote accounts of Socrates' trial that largely agree with Plato lend evidence to the theory (although some, like Creator/{{Xenophon}}, may have relied in part on Plato, so there's some evidence pulling the other way). Some interpreters say that the dialogue, along with a few other Plato's works, [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory foreshadows Christian ethics and eschatology]].

* NotAfraidToDie: One of Socrates' reasons is that WeAllDieSomeday, and you never know when LifeWillKillYou. The courage of these claims is somewhat diminished by the fact that he was very old and near death at the time of his execution.

* ProphecyTwist: {{Subverted}}. Socrates offers a twisted interpretation of the prophecy as a justification of his deeds (the implication being that he is a victim of the prophecy - IF he misunderstood it - in a similar way to Oedipus), but both he and his accusers know perfectly well that the twist (if not the prophecy) is invented by him.

* CourtroomAntic: Some scholars have pointed out that Socrates appears to either ignore or deliberately flout some of the rhetorical tricks and flourishes that his audience would have expected a defendant to provide, to the point that he seems to forego his own defense in order to subtly insult the assembly. It's somewhat debated whether he merely wanted his arguments to stand on their own force, or if this was done in deliberate mockery to demonstrate the contempt he held for his accusers, the accusations, and by extension Athenian society in general.

* AppealToPity: {{Averted}}, with his explicitly declaring that he would not bring his sons to court. This is what the accusers expected Socrates to do, and if he did, it would most probably save him (even though he would lose his authority over the Athenians), but he [[HonorBeforeReason preferred to risk his life]] than humiliate himself in public.
* ChewbaccaDefense: Socrates does this many times, often using AppealToRidicule.

Apart from being one of the oldest examples of the LawProcedural genre in history, it is an important ethical work, discussing the significance of truth in ethics and the real meaning of death. Although, as with all dialogues written by Plato, it is debatable in what degree it describes the historical Socrates instead of being an AuthorTract, it is usually acknowledged to be one of the earliest Plato's texts, which means there is a good chance that the Socrates from ''Apology'' expresses his own views (in the latter case it may be the case when ShamingTheMob did not work). The fact that other authors wrote accounts of Socrates' trial that largely agree with Plato lend evidence to the theory (although some, like Creator/{{Xenophon}}, may have relied in part on Plato, so there's some evidence pulling the other way). Some interpreters say that the dialogue, along with a few other Plato's works, [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory foreshadows Christian ethics and eschatology]]. As Socrates himself says: God only knows.

* CoolPeopleRebelAgainstAuthority: The CoolOldGuy, Socrates. It should be noted, though, that he's only "rebelling" against the earthly, human authority, in the name of compliance with the higher one - the law, and, above all, god.

One of Plato's dialogues, the ''Apology'' (like all works by Creator/{{Plato}}) takes place in [[AncientGreece Greece in the 5th century BC]], being written a little bit later. It describes the famous trial of Creator/{{Socrates}}, performed in Athens after he was accused of blasphemy and [[ThinkOfTheChildren corruption of youth]]. The degree in which it reflects the real event is debatable, but the trial must have had many witnesses (with Plato most probably being one of them), who could help establish the accurate version of all three speeches. Nonetheless, the dialogue is impressive by itself because of its literary value. Of all Plato's dialogues, this one is used as a translating exercise by the students of classical Greek most often, because it is relatively easy to read and very well-written (with numerous examples of famous [[{{Irony}} Socratic irony]]) at the same time.

* RealPersonFic: Like all of Plato's dialogues.

* NotAfraidToDie: One of Socrates' reasons is that WeAllDieSomeday, and you never know when LifeWillKillYou.