Platos The Allegory of the Cave as Means to Explain...

Michael Ehrecke Plato’s â€Å"The Allegory of the Cave† As Means to Explain â€Å"The Apology† Authors sometimes use one work to explain or elaborate on the intricacies of another piece of theirs. Plato is one such example as he uses â€Å"The Allegory of the Cave† as means to better decipher â€Å"The Apology of Socrates.† Plato himself never appears in either dialogue, but it is clear that he disagrees with how Socrates’s trial ended and hopes to prevent another unneeded execution in the future. In â€Å"The Apology of Socrates,† Socrates is accused of not recognizing the gods of the state and of corrupting the youth of Athens. Despite the many instances in which these allegations are challenged and, quite frankly, disproved, Socrates is still put to death.†¦show more content†¦He goes on to tell the story of why he began to challenge the intellectuals of society in the first place. Socrates tells of a deceased friend by the name of Chaerep hon who â€Å"†¦ went to Delphi and boldly asked the oracle to tell him whether†¦ there was anyone wiser than I [Socrates] was, and the Pythian prophetess answered that there was no man wiser.† This troubles Socrates, and he contemplates what this statement really means. Unable to come to a sound conclusion, he devises a plan to get the answer he seeks: â€Å"I reflected that if I could only find a man wiser than myself, then I might go to the god with a refutation in my hand. I should say to him, ‘Here is a man who is wiser than I am; but you said that I was the wisest.’† After meeting with a man who had a reputation for being wise, however, Socrates departed without the man wiser than he. He left the man, thinking to himself: â€Å"Well, although I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is – for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows.† After encounters with multiple m en who possess supposed wisdom, Socrates realizes the prophecy must be correct: â€Å"†¦ but the truth is, O men of Athens, that God only is wise; and in this oracle he means to say that the wisdom of men is little or nothing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Socrates proceeds to question Meletus in front of the councilmen. He questions Meletus about the charges he has brought against him and his reasonsShow MoreRelatedSocrates As A Political Martyr1674 Words   |  7 Pagessomeone who suffers persecution and/or death for advocating, renouncing, refusing to renounce, and/or refusing to advocate a political belief or cause. I believe that Socrates should be considered a martyr, and his actions during his trial in the Apology proves my point. 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