Introduction: Athens in 399 BC

Plato: Apology

In this course, Professor Angie Hobbs (University of Sheffield) explores Plato's Apology, his account of Socrates' trial for 'corrupting the youth' and 'not believing in the gods the state believes in' in Athens in 399 BC. The course begins by considering the political climate in Athens in the early fourth century, before going through the speech section by section over the next four modules. In the sixth module, we think about the Apology as history, asking whether we can trust Plato's version of events, before moving on in the seventh module to think about the Apology as philosophy, thinking about what value the Apology holds for contemporary philosophers today. Finally, we think about the position of the Apology in Plato's overall output, particularly in relation to the other dialogues that detail the final weeks and days of Socrates' life.

Introduction: Athens in 399 BC

In this module, we discuss the political climate in Athens in 399 BC, thinking in particular about the impact of the rule of the Thirty Tyrants immediately following the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) as well as the tentative return to democracy in the final years of the fifth century.