Cover of Apology

Apology

by Plato

First published
395 BC
Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"Apology" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written after 399 BC. It presents Socrates's legal defense at his trial, where he faced charges of corrupting Athens's youth and introducing new gods. Standing before a jury of perhaps 500 Athenian men, Socrates refuses to use sophisticated rhetoric, speaking instead in his characteristic questioning style. Rather than compromise his integrity to avoid death, he challenges his accusers and maintains his philosophical principles, insisting his only wisdom comes from knowing that he knows nothing.

  • Classical literature
  • Socrates, 470 BC-399 BC
  • Philosophy, Ancient

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #1656. Apology on Wikipedia.

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