Some Comments & Questions on The Apology

Legal speech vs. Socratic speech

A. Private advantage vs. Public knowledge

B. On trial for having put Athens on trial

C. Charges: impiety & corruption of youth

D. Is Socrates subversive? Corrupter of the youth? Blasphemer?

a. What is the true purpose of education?

b. Is Socrates a teacher?

c. What is the highest knowledge one can possess?

Human wisdom vs. divine wisdom

E. Oracle: no man was wiser than Socrates?

Knowledge as information vs. knowledge as liberation

F. "The unexamined life is not worth living"

Method for gaining knowledge: Negative vs. Positive dialectic

G. Why must negative dialectic precede positive dialectic?

H. What happens when applied to religion & social values?

Ethics is inseparable from politics

I. Individual good is inseparable from common good

J. Justice: knowing one's role vis-à-vis other human beings

a. Socrates' role & defense in relation to Athens

K. What is the relation between philosopher & her community?

L. Should everyone "philosophize"?

Why we ought not fear death

M. Does injustice really hurt the wrongdoer more than the victim?

What is the place of the lover of wisdom in the unjust society?

Some Socratic claims:

N. We have a duty to ourselves and our community to critique

O. Morality & truth is objective

P. Wrongdoing is self-destructive

Q. Self-reform and social improvement are interdependent

R. True educators are also be seekers

S. Learning is transformative for ourselves & our community