Apology of Socrates X

Protecting the city from the philosopher

At this point Socrates has addressed the charges and so the defense should be over, and yet he brings up another one, the defense of which is the longest of the three: “Are you not ashamed Socrates of having pursued a pursuit from which you now run the risk of dying?” Here we have the shameful appearance of philosophy. Consider, do we not typically judge people on the basis of the circumstances in which they end up? Go visit death-row: are these noble people?

This longer third defense provides some of Socrates’s most memorable teachings.

Implicit in this charge is the question: how can you know that you lived a good life? Perhaps it is to look back and have no regrets? To be able to say, “da capo!” Regardless, Socrates will give his answer to us.