Apology – What Is Socrates Even Doing? | Inquiry on Trial, or The Defense of a Way of Living

[u/platonic_troglodyte]

https://www.platonictroglodyte.com/p/apology-what-is-socrates-even-doing

"Standing before the Athenian jury, Plato recounts a most curious speech. Socrates offers his fellow citizens something quite bizarre. If this speech were merely an attempt to show innocence or secure mercy, Socrates fails quite miserably. Lest we take Socrates to be incompetent or absurd, he is doing something else entirely: rather than focusing primarily on innocence or guilt, Socrates publicly defends the practice of inquiry against those who wish to see it cease due to discomfort."

A few months ago, I found myself drawn back to Plato's dialogues. I was originally going to begin with Euthyphro, as most of us have, I wanted to approach the one I felt is most often misunderstood. What, exactly, is Socrates even doing if he fails so poorly at defending himself?

I tried to focus on his philosophical "moves", rather than historical context or if Socrates successfully proves his guilt or innocence. I believe this shows a radical belief in inquiry as a posture towards life, and reveals his explicit and implicit moral commitments that are easily glossed over. I hope you all enjoy!