Plato's Apology Summary and Analysis

The Apology is Plato's story of Socrates' trial in Athens. Socrates believes that the central question of life is how one should live. This can only be answered by considered which beings are the best and the highest, because we can only consider how we should live in comparison to some idea. However, the Athenian standard of the good life is obeying the rules created by the gods. Socrates rejects this answer, considering it incoherent or at least unsupported. He claims that he knows little about the ultimate things and prefers to challenge the dogma of his fellow citizens. He also believes that false certainty impedes true education, so he questions and challenges many city authorities. For this reason, Socrates was put on trial by the Athenians, for corrupting the youth. The Apology consists of the three speeches Socrates...