Socrates against Athens: Philosophy on Trial

Acknowledgments 1. Introduction: A Tragic Confrontation 2. Setting the Stage for the Trial Preliminaries Historicity of the Apology 3. Socrates and Rhetoric Athens—City of Speech Socrates' Opening Remarks: Dismantling Forensic Rhetoric 4. Socrates Confronts His Old Accusers Socrates and Aristophanes' Clouds Socrates Denies He Is a Teacher of Natural Science Socrates Denies He is a Sophist 5. Socrates' Radical Philosophic Mission The Delphic Oracle Socrates Examines the Politicians, Poets, and Craftsmen The Mask of Ignorance Solving the Riddle of the Oracle 6. The Athenian Polis Ideal The Funeral Oration of Pericles: Apotheosis of the Polis Homeric Shame Culture Democracy Appropriates Homer The Polis and the Individual 7. Socrates Confronts His Present Accusers: The Interrogation of Meletus Corrupting the Young The Polis as Teacher Athenian Polis Religion Socrates and Impiety 8. Socrates Brings the Philosophic Mission into the Court Death Bears No Sting Caring for One's Soul Stepping Up the Offensive The Gadfly 9. The Politics of an Unpolitical Man A Private Rather Than a Public Station Socrates' Divine Voice Defender of Justice 10. The Trial Concludes: Socrates Condemned The Corruption Charge Revisited Rejecting an Appeal for Sympathy Proposing a Counterpenalty Truth Fails to Persuade Parting Words to Enemies Parting Words to Friends 11. Socrates and Civil Disobedience: The Crito Socrates and Antigone Socrates Dismisses the Shame Culture Justice and the Soul Socrates Argues for the Laws The Skillful Ironist Fulfilling the Will of a Benevolent God 12. Conclusion: A Conflict Unresolved Notes Selected Bibliography Index