Running head: JOURNAL ENTRY FOR “APOLOGY” BY PLATO
Apology
The ‘apology’ is in three parts; the Socrates legal self-defense, the verdict of the judges
and finally Socrates sentencing. Socrates who is in his 70’s and is facing a trial in court for
impiety and corruption is pleading with the judges to make a good judgment not basing on what
people are saying or what they influenced them to think but basing on the truth . I believe that
Socrates is a very brave person and a philosopher because he is not afraid to speak his mind out
even when most of the people were against him; he freely spoke his mind and firmly stood for
what he believed.
I think the judges’ decisions to pass a death sentence was affected by Anytus, Meletus,
and Lycon because when Meletus was being cross-examined he contradicted himself by accusing
Socrates of being an atheist and believed in demigods, hence the judgment was not just and fair.
Socrates pleads not guilty to the accusations leveled against him. The individuals whom Socrates
is accused of corrupting were present in court to give him moral support throughout the trial.
Socrates was a good man, and his philosophical thoughts were meant to add value to other
people. Being persecuted on that ground and standing on what he believes was unfair as
everyone has a freedom of speech.
Socrates acted ethically before and throughout the judgment and he stood for the truth
without fear. This journal portrays what happens in court nowadays where the innocent people
are convicted of a crime they did not commit due to lack of enough time for investigations, lack
of enough supporting evidence and the witnesses not willing to testify. I believe that he is
innocent and were it for me, i would have voted for his release because I think the charges
against him was not enough to warrant a death sentence leave alone imprisonment.
