Apology book club questions

The reading plan

Meeting 1: Part 1

1. When, if ever, should justice matter more than staying alive?
2. How might a life spent questioning others help or harm a community?
3. What would make Socrates' explanation of his mission convincing to you?
4. How should accusations of unbelief affect the way people judge someone's conduct?
5. What is a fair way to judge whether someone's questioning corrupts others?
6. How might defending a whole way of life differ from answering a particular accusation?
7. What might Socrates gain or lose by explaining his mission to those judging him?
8. How do you distinguish courage from stubbornness in Socrates' choice to place justice above survival?

Meeting 2: Part 2

9. Is refusing to plead a sign of dignity, or can it be a failure to help yourself?
10. What would you need to hear before accepting Socrates' claim that death need not be feared?
11. How does the court's condemnation affect your judgment of Socrates' commitment to justice?
12. Could pleading be consistent with choosing justice over survival? Why or why not?
13. How might Socrates' refusal to plead change the way those judging him understand his defense?
14. What different reasons might explain Socrates' refusal to plead?
15. Does explaining why death need not be feared make Socrates' choice of justice more persuasive to you, or less?

Themes to talk about

Tips for the host

1. Open each meeting with one question everyone can answer, then go deeper.
2. Anyone who fell behind can catch up with the 15-minute summary.