Resumen
Resumen de Apología
Para quién es
For readers new to Socrates who enjoy a plain entry point into his philosophy, and for anyone curious about how a good life looks under pressure.
De qué trata este libro
The Apology is a short work by Xenophon, an Athenian soldier and writer, about the trial of his teacher Socrates in 399 BC. Socrates was charged with not honouring the gods of the city and with corrupting the young. Xenophon wrote his account some time afterwards, to answer a question that troubled many Athenians. Why did Socrates speak so boldly before his jurors, and why did he seem almost to welcome the outcome?
Xenophon was not in Athens at the time, so he builds his account on what others told him, above all a friend named Hermogenes. The result is brief, clear and practical. It gives you the charges, Socrates' answers, and a portrait of a man who thinks his life has already been his best defence. Let us begin with the puzzle that opens the book, the question of Socrates' proud manner.
En este resumen
- 1Why Socrates spoke so boldlyFree
- 2His life answers the charges
- 3Questioning the accuser about the young
- 4Facing the verdict without fear
Idea clave 1 de 4
Why Socrates spoke so boldly
Xenophon begins by noting that other writers had already recorded the proud tone of Socrates in court. He says they proved that Socrates really spoke this way. But he thinks they failed to show why Socrates judged death better for him than continued life, and that made his boldness look foolish.
So Xenophon turns to Hermogenes, son of Hipponicus, who was close to Socrates and present at the trial. Hermogenes tells him that Socrates had been talking about every subject except his coming trial. Hermogenes asked why he was not preparing a speech. Socrates answered that he had spent his whole life preparing, since he had never done anything unjust.
Hermogenes pressed him, pointing out that Athenian courts often put innocent men to death when moved by clever words. Socrates replied that when he tried to think about a defence, his divine sign stopped him. This sign, which the Greeks called the daimonion, was an inner voice he said had guided him all his life. Xenophon uses this to frame the whole book. Socrates is not being careless. He believes he is following a guide.
That’s 1 of 4 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Who’s who
- Socrates
- Socrates is Xenophon's teacher, an Athenian philosopher defending his religious conduct and influence on the young before his jurors.
- Hermogenes
- Hermogenes is a friend of Socrates whose account supplies Xenophon with information about the philosopher's preparations for trial.
- Meletus
- Meletus is an accuser of Socrates, whom the philosopher questions about his alleged corruption of young people.
- Apollodorus
- Apollodorus is a devoted follower of Socrates who expresses distress at his teacher's treatment during the trial.
About this edition
Every format is free to start, and print and large print are at cost.
- LengthAbout 4,900 words
- Reading timeAbout 20 min
- Listening time30 min
- FormatseBook, large-print eBook, audiobook, 15-minute summary
- LanguagesEnglish and 12 other languages
Questions about Apología
What is Xenophon's Apology about?
It is a short account of Socrates' trial in Athens in 399 BC. It explains why Socrates answered the charges of impiety and corrupting the young in such a proud and calm way.
Was Xenophon at the trial of Socrates?
No. Xenophon was away from Athens at the time. He relies on reports, especially from Hermogenes, a close friend of Socrates who was there, so his account is secondhand.
What is the daimonion of Socrates?
It was a divine sign or inner voice that Socrates said guided him all his life, usually by holding him back from a course of action. He cites it as his reason for not preparing a defence.
How is Xenophon's Apology different from Plato's?
Xenophon's version is much shorter and more practical. It focuses on why Socrates chose his bold manner, while Plato's gives a longer speech with deeper philosophical arguments about wisdom and the examined life.
Is Xenophon's Apology hard to read?
No. It is easy to start because it is brief and clear, and it follows one simple path: the charges, then Socrates' answers. He questions his accuser with plain everyday examples, like trusting a doctor on health, so each point is easy to follow.