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Plato: Apology (Greek Edition)

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This book was wonderfully organized for those who would like to read ancient Greek texts. We can read Plato's Apology without looking up the Greek dictionary. In the appendices, some Sentence Diagrams,table of the tense of the verbs of the Principal Parts, Word Frequency List, and the Vocabulary List were provided.

This textbook has much to recommend it. I used it this year in an advanced high school Greek course and know of no textbook either in or out of print that is more helpful. As a practical matter, it supersedes all earlier editions, most of which fail to meets the needs of current students.

The text contains a complete vocabulary. Each page of Greek text is accompanied by extensive notes on the facing page (along with translations of words that appear infrequently). While the Apology is often labeled an "intermediate" Greek text, it features many challenging constructions, including (to cite only a few) prolepsis, anacoluthon, attraction, and frequent ellipses. Intermediate Greek students cannot possibly unravel these syntactical knots without useful explanatory notes. Helm's comments are crisp and on point. Nor does he co-opt the student's task of translating.

Also included are references to more detailed treatments of grammatical points found in Herbert Weir Smyth's monumental "Greek Grammar." There are useful appendices, one with diagrams of several long and complicated sentences, another containing principal parts of key verbs found in the work. Overall, the notes are directed to the student who is coming to the text of the Apology for the first time.

My only quibble with this textbook is the Greek font, which I do not find especially appealing. I much prefer the Porson font found in the Bryn Mawr commentary of the same work.

As for the Apology itself, it is one of the great masterworks of Greek literature. To read it in Greek is an education in itself. An ancient commentator insightfully pointed out that the work is really four things: 1) a defense speech proper; 2) a counter-indictment of the Athenian people; 3) a portrait of Socrates the man; and 4) a depiction of the ideal philosopher. It truly is each of these things, and the brilliance of Plato's achievement lies in his simultaneous handling of these different aims.

The speech can be approached from a range of perspectives. In the very least it is a fascinating study in Athenian legal procedure (Socrates was tried by a jury of 500 Athenian citizens), where judges and lawyers played no role in the trial and jurors were largely free to interpret the charge however they wished. The speech also must be situated in its historical context, namely, the end of the Peloponnesian War, the rule of the Thirty Tyrants, and the restoration of the Athenian democracy. The way in which the traditional morality of Athens was challenged by the sophists must also be considered closely for a full understanding of the speech.

Some have argued that Socrates did a poor job of defending himself. Certainly there are passages where, rather then defending himself, he condemns the Athenians for failing to tend to their own souls and warns them in no uncertain terms that they will only be the worse for executing him. In the end, the speech is extraordinarily moving in its depiction of Socrates' unflinching moral courage and absolute devotion to his philosophical mission.

This presentation of the Greek text was incredibly helpful, and clearly designed with a careful eye to the struggles of a student reading their first work of Greek prose. Helms was happy to define every new word and call attention to every single idiom. This made my coursework very straightforward. There was no need to go digging through LSJ every time I got confused; Helms places his notes alongside the text (on the facing page). I wish every work in Greek had an annotation like this!

I do not narrate books. I give my personal opinion of the work and it's impression on me. "Transport me", is what I require of each and every author, needing to see it in my mind's eye. Here, I am in the court and before counsel. This is my APOLOGY.

Usual amazing Plato-ness. The preface to this has a detailed discussion of how Plato makes Socrates seem a bit "Superior". I agree as this is a dialectic challenge, i.e. creating a speech of one's own defense that doesn't result in a person being "defensive" or at the very least outraged at false accusations. I found his discussion on politics and justice or righteousness to be fascinatingly timeless.

The philosopher Plato, born in 427 BCE narrates the trial and death of his seventy year old teacher Socrates in 399 BCE in Athens, Greece in four of his dialogues. Socrates was accused of impiety and of corrupting the youth. The general consensus among today's historians and scholars is that Socrates was innocent of the charges against him. However, the citizens of Athens felt differently during his time. Socrates was found guilty, was imprisoned, was able to meet with and talk with his friends before his death, and died by drinking hemlock given to him by his executioner.

Plato presents Socrates' defense of himself, which is quite persuasive. We will focus on one item: Socrates' reactions to his impending death. It is one of several early discussions about death.

The Apology reports Socrates thought about life after death and Phaedo quotes his last words. Both show his courage and fine character.

In The Apology, Socrates' friends are surprised that he is taking his impending death so calmly. One friend asks him what he thinks happens to people after their death. Socrates admits that he does not know, but sees two possibilities: either there is no afterworld or there is one. If there is no afterworld, there is nothing to worry about. Death will be like a dreamless sleep. Even the riches people on earth, who have all kinds of possessions and enjoy all kinds of activities and pleasures, delight in an undisturbed sleep. If, on the other hand, there is an afterlife, there is again no concern. The dead will enjoy meeting acquaintances and heroes of old; it will be a truly enjoyable and learning experience. Understanding this, he explained, he had no need to fear death; on the contrary, either way, there will be nothing bad after death.

Phaedo shows that Socrates did not change his mood or mind. He drinks the Hemlock and dies slowly, very calm, very accepting. He feels that he has lived a good life and is satisfied. As Socrates is about to die, this man who had been charged with corrupting the youth of Athens and of being impious, turns to his friend Crito and says, "Crito, we owe a cock to Aesculapius. Pay it and do not neglect it." These were his last words.

Phaedo end with a lamenting, but congratulatory comment by the person narrating the story, "Such was the end, Echecrates, of our friend, who was, as we may say, of all those of his time whom we have known, the best and wisest and most righteous man."