Plato: The Apology

Discussion Questions

Great Books Reading Group

April 14, 2022

The Apology: Plato

Adult Great Book Program, First Series, Volume 1, 1985

Discussion Questions

1. Socrates says he has two sets of accusers. How does he differentiate them? Why does he break them into two groups?

2. Why does the oracle at Delphi say that Socrates is the wisest of all?

3. How does Socrates criticize poets and craftsmen? Is he right?

4. What do his accusers mean when they charge him with “corrupting youth?”

5. How does fear of death fit into Socrates’ philosophy of life?

6. Why did Socrates stay out of “politics?”

7. Socrates asks, “Why do people enjoy spending time with me?” What is his answer?

8. What is his main argument for saying he does not “corrupt youth”?

9. The most famous quote from this reading is on page 61 (bottom): “…the unexamined life is not worth living…”. What does he mean by this?

10. What would Socrates do once he is in the afterlife? Why?

11. Socrates says death is one of two things. What are they? Why is he unconcerned with either?

12. How would modern-day people react to a person like Socrates?

BONUS QUESTION!

13. The crux of Socrates philosophy seems to be that we don’t really know anything for sure, people do not have a sound logical basis for their beliefs, and it is only the “wise” who understand this. Is it possible, or desirable, to go through life thinking that you don’t really know anything? Should Socrates be celebrated? Or vilified as a cynical skeptic?