PHI 1103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Meletus, Natural Philosophy, Sophist

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 1103
• Professor: Mark Brown

Document Summary

The apology and the allegory of the cave. Crucial distinction and socrates definitely is a philosopher. The nature of socrates" teaching (20c 24b) Socrates is not a natural philosopher (19a-d) The oracle at delphi: no one is wiser than socrates . The charges of corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods. The charge of corrupting the youth: first defense: meletus is ignorant (24c-25c, second defense: socrates would hurt himself (25c-26a) The charge of not believing in the gods: socrates: i believe in spirits, therefore in the gods (27b-28a, making sense of this argument. He will do philosophy even in the face of death (28a-30b) Athens is the one who will be harmed, not socrates (30b-31c) He cannot be involved in public affairs (31c-33b) Will not make an appeal to pity to reduce the sentence (34b-35d) Will also not escape the law by fleeing athens in exile. The law is the law, and should be faced courageously.