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What happens in Plato’s Apology?

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The Greek philosopher Plato — Plato Plato, marble portrait bust copied from an original of the 4th century bce; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.

Plato’s Apology is a foundational dialogue that recounts the defense speech delivered by Socrates during his 399 BCE trial in Athens.12

The Charges and Defense

Socrates was accused of failing to acknowledge the city's gods, introducing new divinities, and corrupting the youth. In his defense, Socrates:13
* Refutes the charges: He denies being a teacher and argues that his life has been defined by a single-minded devotion to a divine sign or voice.43
* Cites the Oracle: He recounts how the Delphic oracle confirmed his unique status, leading him to pursue a life of questioning.13
* Advocates for the examined life: He famously asserts that the unexamined life is not worth living and that ethical virtue is the only thing that truly matters.5

The Outcome

The jury found Socrates guilty and sentenced him to death by poison. Following the verdict, Socrates refused to propose an acceptable alternative punishment and expressed no regrets for his life or his defense. While the work serves as a defense of Socrates, it also functions as Plato’s critique of Athenian democracy and a call to embrace the life of a philosopher.213