The Apology questions

1. If you had to divide the Apology into three or four segments, what would those sections be? What happens in each part?

2. Who has brought the charges against Socrates?

3. What are the charges that the jury must consider?

4. Socrates says he has gotten a bad reputation because he has a "kind of wisdom." What is this wisdom?

5. Recount Socrates' tale of how he got his mission from the god or oracle at Delphi.

6. After hearing the god's opinion, what did Socrates think was his religious duty?

7. What is Socrates' answer to each charge?

8. Why do you think that Socrates claims he knows that doing wrong and disobeying a superior would be wicked and shameful?

9. Why does Socrates think that the Athenians would be harming themselves rather than harming Socrates if they put him to death? What service has he provided the city of Athens by philosophising there?

10. Do you think Socrates is wise to disregard the possibility that he may die if he does not please the court?

11. Socrates claims that he has always had within him a divine voice which sometimes stops him from saying or doing something, but never urges him to do anything. Why does he think the voice has usually stopped him from participating directly in the political life?