Plato's Apology of Socrates : A Literary and Philosophical Study with a Running Commentary. Edited and Completed From the Papers of the Late E. De Strycker, S.J.

There have been many recent studies on the Apology . This book differs from them in that it attempts a synthesis of philosophical and literary approaches. A great deal of attention is paid to the philosophical and religious views that are present--often implicitly--in the text; they are much closer to the philosophy of Plato's main works than is usually assumed. But the Apology is also analysed as a rhetorical text: its close relationship with fourth-century rhetorical theory and practice is highlighted. The analyses of the various parts of the speech are followed by a detailed line-by-line commentary. The work was started by E. de Strycker, S.J.; after his death, it was revised and completed by S.R. Slings. PLATO'S APOLOGY OF SOCRATES: A LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY WITH A RUNNING COMMENTARY 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 Preface 10 Second Preface 12 Literature 16 CHAPTER I: Introduction 20 1. The Historicity of the Platonic Apology 20 2. The Intention of the Platonic Apology 27 a) The Apology as a Defence 27 b) The Apology as a Portrait 29 c) The Apology as an Exhortation to Philosophy 32 3. The Date of the Platonic Apology 35 4. The Plan of the Platonic Apology 40 CHAPTER II: The Exordium 46 1. The Line of Thought 46 2. The Gorgianic Oratory 47 3. The Rhetorical Commonplaces 50 4. Socrates' Own Conception of Oratory 55 CHAPTER III: Proposition 60 1. Exordium and Proposition 60 2. The Proposition of the Apology 65 CHAPTER IV: Refutation of the Old Accusers. Negative part 68 1. Refutation According to Fourth-Century Rhetoric 68 2. General Remarks about the Refutation of the Old Accusers 69 3. Remarks about the Contents of the Paragraphs 19a8-d7 and 19d8-20c3 71 4. Remarks about the Literary Structure of the Same Paragraphs 74 CHAPTER V: The Narration 78 1. General Remarks 78 2. Philosophical Significance of the Narration 81 3. Literary Technique of the Narration 87 4. Character Painting in the Narration 89 5. The Oracle 93 CHAPTER VI: Refutation of the New Accusers 102 1. Introductory Remarks 102 2. The Official Text of the Indictment 103 3. The Legal Basis of the Indictment 105 4. The Accusers and their Motives for Impeaching Socrates 110 5. The 'Interrogation' of Meletus 120 a) Cross-Examination in the Treatises on Rhetoric and in the Orators 120 b) The Questioning in the Apology 122 6. The Refutation of the First Charge 126 a) First Problem: Who Makes the Young Better? 126 b) Second Problem: Is it Possible to Corrupt Wilfully? 132 7. The Refutation of the Second Charge 137 8. The Conclusion of the ' Eρώτησις 142 9. Function and Place of the Eρώτησις in the Structure of the Apology 143 CHAPTER VII: Answer to a First Objection 146 1. Introductory Remarks 146 2. The First Objection 147 3. Socrates' Answer: Considerations Taken from to τόκαλόν 148 a) The General Principle 148 b) The Application to the Case of Socrates 152 4. Socrates' Answer: Considerations Taken from τό ώφέλιμον 163 5. Socrates as the Religious Man 165 CHAPTER VIII: Answer to a Second Objection 170 1. The Second Objection 170 2. Socrates' Answer 172 a) The Divine Sign 172 b) A General Principle 175 c) Two Stories Told by Socrates 179 d) Education without a Contract 186 e) Witnesses for Socrates' Beneficial Influence on the Young 192 CHAPTER IX: Peroration 196 1. The Peroration in Attic Rhetoric and Oratory 196 2. Socrates' Peroration 199 CHAPTER X: Second Speech 204 1. Introduction 204 2. A Proposal According to Principle 205 a) Is Socrates' Attitude Arrogant? First Remarks 210 b) The Various Rejected Solutions 211 c) An Objection and a New Proposal 215 d) Is Socrates' Attitude Arrogant? Final Remarks 218 CHAPTER XI: Third Speech 220 1. Introductory Remarks 220 2. Socrates Addresses the Jurors who Voted for Condemnation 223 a) Looking Back at the Lawsuit 224 b) A Look into the Future 225 c) The Tone of the Passage 230 3. Socrates Speaks to the Jurors who Voted for Acquittal 232 a) Socrates Calls them 'Friends' and 'Judges' 232 b) Three Considerations that Show what the Death-Sentence Means for Socrates 234 α. The Silence of the Divine Sign 234 ß. An Eschatological Dilemma 235 γ. The One Single Truth 251 4. Parting Words 254 COMMENTARY 260 1. 17al-18a6 Exordium 260 2. 18a7-19a7 Proposition 271 3. 19a8-20c3 Refutation of the Old Accusers 278 4. 20c4-24b2 Narration 287 5. 24b3-28b2 Refutation of the New Accusers 315 6. 28b3-31c3 Answer to a First Objectio 337 7. 31c4-34b5 Answer to a Second Objection 359 8. 34b6-35d8 Peroration 376 9. 35el-38b9 Second Speech 385 10. 38cl-42a5 Third Speech 396 Index locorum 418 Index verborum 422 Index grammaticus 424 SUPPLEMENTS TO MNEMOSYNE 426 There have been many recent studies on the Apology. This book differs from them in that it attempts a synthesis of philosophical and literary approaches. A great deal of attention is paid to the philosophical and religious views that are present - often implicitly - in the text; they are much closer to the philosophy of Plato's main works than is usually assumed. But the Apology is also analysed as a rhetorical text: its close relationship with fourth-century rhetorical theory and practice is highlighted. The analyses of the various parts of the speech are followed by a detailed line-by-line commentary. The work was started by E. de Strycker SJ; after his death, it was revised and completed by S.R. Slings. The Apology is analysed as a piece of philosophical rhetoric. It proves surprisingly close to the philosophy of Plato's main works and to fourth-century rhetorical theory and practice.This study also contains a detailed line-by-line commentary.