Apology

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.7

Word count: 86K words
Chapters: 9

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Apology by PlatoAuthor: Plato, 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Feb 1, 1999

Editor's review

Apology is Plato's classic dialogue recounting Socrates' defense of himself before the Athenian court; it is short but full of tension. It presents a philosopher's stance of persistent questioning and refusal to compromise at the threshold of life and death, and displays the tension between freedom of thought and the order of the city under Athenian democracy. Socrates' account of knowing his own ignorance and his criticism of rhetoric and flattery are an entry point to the Western philosophical tradition. This edition is a public-domain English e-book from Project Gutenberg, suitable as an introduction to philosophy or as companion reading for the history of ancient Greek thought. As you read, note how Socratic cross-examination proceeds and how he turns his defense into a reflection on the city's way of life. Since it is an English original, it is best for readers with some English reading ability, who may also consult a translation for comparison.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with basic English reading ability who want to approach ancient Greek philosophy through primary texts
Philosophy or political science students who need English materials for course reading
General readers interested in the death of Socrates and freedom of thought
English learners who want to practice close reading with a short classic

Not a good fit for

Beginners who rely entirely on Chinese and are not used to English primary texts
Readers expecting a systematic history of philosophy textbook or a detailed annotated edition
Readers who want only plot and lack patience for argument

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the courtroom setting and the thread of the defense, then revisit the turning points of the argument section by section.
Keep pen and paper to mark the steps of Socrates' cross-examination and try to restate the logic of his rebuttal.
Read alongside a Chinese translation, pausing at key terms to check your understanding.
After reading, write a short response saying whether Socrates' defense persuaded you and why.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in Chinese or English?

This is an English public-domain e-book released by Project Gutenberg, with the main text in English. If English is difficult, read alongside a Chinese translation: understand the content first, then return to the original.

Can I understand it without a philosophy background?

It is short with a clear setting, so beginners can grasp the general sense. But Socratic cross-examination requires slow reading; it helps to read an introduction or a translator's preface first to understand the charges and the relationships among the figures, then read the original.

What background knowledge is needed to read this dialogue?

It is enough to know the general institutions of the Athenian city-state and the basic situation of Socrates being charged with impiety and corrupting the young. For concepts such as the oracle and rhetoric, consult translation notes or a history of philosophy.

Does this edition have notes and an introduction?

According to the information, this is a public-domain electronic text from Project Gutenberg, with no indication that it includes modern notes or an introduction. If you need detailed annotation, use a scholarly annotated edition alongside it.

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About the author

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCE Author

Plato (c. 427–347 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher. Reliable details of his life are limited in public sources, and his thought and writings are generally known through later accounts. The library holds 65 of his works, including the multi-volume Republic (Πολιτεία), the Symposium, and the Phaedo. These works are mostly dialogues with Socrates as the central figure, unfolding through question and answer around justice, the governance of the city, love, the soul, and knowledge, combining philosophical inquiry with dramatic literary form. The Republic, which discusses the ideal city and justice, is especially influential. Plato's style is marked by analogy, argument, and open-ended conclusions, and he has had a lasting influence on later Western philosophy and political thought.