Loyalty Is Nothing Without Self Sacrifice: The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

The Apology of Socrates illustrates the infamous ‘trial of Socrates’ in 399 BC and the stance Socrates took to protect his viewpoints. In this trial, Socrates is being sentenced to death for two charges: Impiety, or lacking respect of proper respect for the Athenian Gods as well as corruption of the youth. Socrates makes a strong case for himself to continue teaching Philosophy stating that he would rather die than to stop because a life unexamined is a life not worth living. Throughout the dialogue, he exemplifies his views of wisdom, virtue, and moral truths, not to just clear his name, but to expose the ignorance of his judges, prosecutors, and fellow citizens. The Greek word for “apology” (apologia) is translated to defense, many get confused, this is not his apology for what he has done, rather than it is his fight to rationalize his teachings. Crito is another dialogue and is published in the aftermath of Socrates being sentenced to death by the judges. Crito, who is Socrates’ rich friend, says that Socrates has been punished unjustly and cruelly, and to get away he must follow up with an unjust act and escape. This is contrary to Socrates’ teachings as he refuses to follow an unjust move with another. In both the Apology and Crito, Socrates remains loyal to his beliefs, but the way he acts differs throughout the two dialogues. While in the Apology, his argumentative mastery and wisdom are more defiant, in Crito, he more so stays true to himself, displaying little abrasiveness towards others, and showing that he would rather die a man of his word, than give in to the temptation of fleeing Athens.

The trial in the Apology is new to Socrates at the age of 70 as this is his first appearance in court. He states “I am therefore simply a stranger to the manner of speaking here. Just as if I were really a stranger, you would certainly excuse me if I spoke in that dialect and manner in which I had been brought up, so too my request seems a just one, for you to pay no attention to my manner of speech- be it better or worse- but to concentrate your attention on whether what I say is just or not” (Plato 21). This statement is impeccably exemplifying Socrates’ argumentative skills because he is giving the jury a case that puts his wisdom and innocence on display. Socrates saying that this is his first appearance on the lawcourt is an argument in and of itself because of his old age. He has done nothing wrong in his life throughout his 70 years and he makes this very clear to the audience so they can get a sense of who he is as a person. Socrates lived his life based on learning and believes that is truly the only way a man/woman can use their time in Athens to the fullest: “The unexamined life is not worth living” (Plato 39). The wisest man of them all says this after he has chosen death over exile when he is found guilty after the trial. He firmly believes that philosophy is the most important inquiry, higher than anything else. His wisdom is personified through his logical arguments and intense questioning of life itself. He accepts the fact that everyone will die one day, whether that will come early in life or at an older age, and one must have an examined life for their time to be worth it. He would rather die than stop philosophizing because the moment someone stops examining life is when they cease to grow spiritually. For Socrates, we can conclude that he values wisdom passionately, but he does also make clear that it is better to seek knowledge and be conscious of your ignorance rather than to claim knowledge that you do not obtain. This humbleness that he had was one of the driving factors in him behaving as he did in Crito.

In Crito, Socrates’ integrity is at an all-time high as he will die for what he believes in. He argues to his best friend that he will not escape the prison cell because it would be unjust and wrong against the Athenian Law, although he was wrongfully imprisoned under them. The other side of the argument is strong because if he does not escape, he will die at the hands of Athenian lawmakers. However, Socrates says, “It would not be fitting at my age to resent the fact that I must die now” (Plato 43). He claims that as a citizen of Athens he has agreed to do one of three options: Follow the orders of Athenian Laws, persuade the Athenian Law that their rulings and laws are unjust, or flee Athens. He has already tried to convince the jury his side, that has not worked and as a child of Athens, and he refuses to leave the city. He is a loyal man to the city and at this point believes it is time to accept death. Plato creates Socrates’ character more unique than we have seen it throughout the dialogue. As Socrates has come into acknowledgment that his time has come, he accepts his fate as well as his punishment. Socrates will honor his city and be grateful for the time they have given him. This is absurd because he has been prosecuted unjustly and any normal person would have accepted Crito’s rescue and gotten the hell out of there. But as we have come to know, Socrates is not normal, he is the wisest person in all of Athens according to the Oracle at Delphi. This is a massive choice as he is showing the city that he is a man of his word. He backs up exactly what he teaches no matter what the circumstances are. At one-point int the dialogue Plato even has Socrates talks as if he is the law and counters Crito in everything he says. “Did we not, first bring you to birth… Do you think you have this right to retaliation against your country and its laws?... one must obey the commands of one’s city and country or persuade it as to the nature of justice (Plato 51). Socrates does a fantastic job of foreshadowing exactly what will happen when he flees. This is another example of how wise he is, he thinks of the big picture at all times and this is why he has come to his acceptance of death.

Plato has portrayed Socrates as a role model, wiseman, and trustworthy person in both dialogues. Socrates is someone that many people would follow because of his adventurous lifestyle and strive to learn. As Socrates loves to say, to live you must learn and to learn means to live. It is important to stay loyal to one’s self because regardless of what one does, they will always be judged by others so obtaining happiness comes from within. No one is as strong as Socrates spiritually, mentally, and physically. No one with a higher human excellence in the city of Athens, he has done so much for the city with his teachings by leading people to learn. Plato feeds off of Socrates and continued his work and teachings when he died. Plato has made the point to the reader that when a majority rules, they are not at all times just and fair.