OCTOBER 16/17: ATHENS DEFEATED, SOCRATES CONDEMNED:
CRISIS AND CRITIQUE
READINGS (Monday class, October 16): excerpts from Thucydides’ History of the
Peloponnesian War: the Civil War in Corcyra, and the Melian Dialogue
(Procopy packet); “The Apology”
and “Crito” from Great Dialogues of Plato,
pp. 423-59
(Consult the commentary on the Trial of Socrates)
READINGS (Tuesday class, October 17):
excerpts from Thucydides’ History
of the
Peloponnesian War: the Civil War in Corcyra, and the Melian Dialogue
(Procopy packet); “The Apology”
and “Crito” from Great Dialogues of Plato,
pp. 423-59; selections from the Republic, in Great Dialogues of Plato,
pp. 118-25, 155-89, 214-17, 286, 415-22.
(Consult the commentary on the Trial of Socrates, and be sure to continue to the webnotes
on Plato's Republic, the commentary on book one, and the concluding remarks on the Republic)
Summary: Thucydides' account of the civil war in Corcyra and
its
consequences and his description of the Athenians' ultimatum to the
Melians (the Melian Dialogue) will complete our discussion of the moral
and political crises in Athens provoked by the pressures of the
Peloponnesian War. In our reading of the Apology, we will consider the
historical figure of Socrates and examine his trial as a response to
these crises at the end of the fifth century B.C. In
the Crito, Socrates refuses an opportunity to escape from prison and
save himself from execution. His imagined dialogue with the Laws of
Athens provides one defense of the authority of the state and the
citizens’ obligations to it.
THE SETTING
In 404 B.C., Athens capitulated to Sparta and
her allies to end the long Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.). In
the aftermath of the disastrous defeat, a party of wealthy citizens
sought to replace the Athenian constitution and establish an OLIGARCHY
. The regime of the THIRTY TYRANTS lasted for little more
than a year, but it represented a reign of terror with the execution
of political opponents and a confiscation of properties. By 403
B.C., the Thirty Tyrants had been deposed and democracy was restored to
Athens. The trial of Socrates took place in 399 B.C. in the
aftermath
of the war, at a time when Athenians were looking for the causes of
their
military and political failures.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: THE CIVIL WAR IN CORCYRA
AND THE MELIAN DIALOGUE
-Consider Thucydides’ remarks on the consequences of the revolution in
Corcyra. How is his analysis of the revolution and its
consequences similar to or different from his discussion of the plague?
-What is Thucydides' view of human nature? Where does he
believe that laws come from? What is their purpose?
-In the Melian Dialogue, the Athenians declare that “the standard of
justice depends on the equality of power to compel and...in fact the
strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they
have to accept.” Compare this view of justice with others that we
have discussed in ancient Greek works.
-When the Melians reply, they distinguish “justice” from
“self-interest”. Is that a distinction that the Athenians
recognize? Why or why not? Do you distinguish those two
terms? Why or why not?
-How do the Melians appeal to the Athenians’ sense of
self-interest? Sum up their argument in your own words, and
relate it to Thucydides’ reflections on law in the wake of the
revolution in Corcyra.
-Compare the views of the gods expressed by the Melians and the
Athenians. Can you compare either view with others that we have
discussed in ancient Greek works?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: INTERPRETING AND APPRECIATING
THE APOLOGY
-What are the "older charges" against Socrates (pp. 424-25)? Why
are they so dangerous?
-Why is Socrates so careful to point out that he is neither a “natural
scientist” nor a “SOPHIST”
(itinerant, paid teacher of RHETORIC
)?
-Why does Socrates believe that he is being tried?
-COMPARING WORKS >>>How does Socrates use irony?
Can you compare his use of irony to Sophocles' use of irony in
Oedipus
Rex?
-What is the formal indictment against Socrates (p. 430)?
-What is the point of Socrates' discussion with Meletus about the
improvement or education of youth (pp. 430-32)? Is the analogy
between young people and horses a good one? Why or why not?
-What is Socrates' view of the gods?
-COMPARING WORKS >>> Socrates compares himself to
Achilles (p. 434). Based on your reading of the Iliad, is it a
good comparison?
-COMPARING WORKS >>> Compare Socrates' defense at his
trial (pp. 434-36) with Antigone's defense of her actions before
Creon (lines 499-524). Are their views of "God" similiar?
-COMPARING WORKS >>> Consider Socrates' views about
death. How are they similar to or different from the views
expressed or implied in the Iliad and Antigone?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: INTERPRETING AND
APPRECIATING THE CRITO
-Explain the relationship between human and divine law in Socrates’
imagined dialogue with the Laws of Athens (pp. 455-59).
-COMPARING WORKS>>> Compare the view of the laws
expressed in the Crito with Antigone’s views of law and with those
presented
in the selections from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War
which
we have discussed.
COMMENTARY:
BOOK 1 of the REPUBLIC
NEXT CLASS: OCTOBER 18 (Plato's Republic)
SCHEDULE OF READINGS
(Monday/Wednesday)
SCHEDULE OF READINGS (Tuesday night)
RETURN TO HUM 2211