Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:

What are the main points that Socrates makes to the jury in the passage from 28b to 30d in the Apology (on pp. 32 – 35)? (You don’t need to relate every single thing, but your synopsis should be detailed enough to convey what is important in this passage.) Outside of that passage, find one place that demonstrates that Socrates is an independent thinker. Explain why what you found shows that Socrates is an independent thinker.

Summarize the argument that Socrates makes on behalf of the laws and the state from 50a to 53a in the Crito (see pp. 53 – 56). How persuasive is the claim, made on p. 53, that, by breaking one law, “you are attempting …to destroy us, the laws, and indeed the whole city” (50b)? How persuasive is the claim, made at the bottom of p. 54, that “whoever of you remains, when he sees how we conduct our trials and manage the city in other ways, has in fact come to an agreement with us to obey our instruction (51e)?

The Apology and the Crito, especially pp. 53 to 57 of the Crito, appear to defend different points of view. Assume that it is not the same Socrates speaking in both dialogues. Although Socrates was a real person, he is also Plato’s character in these dialogues, and so let’s say that Plato changed the attitude of the character Socrates.

How are the two views different? With which view do you agree more? Explain.

Other instructions by the professor: Any quotations should be short, in quotes, and cited with the numbers and letters that are in the margin. Among other things, summarizing the two passages will take some time. 

Other instruction by me: Please make sure that you follow all the instructions provided above. My professor is very strict on following instruction given by him, so please follow all the instructions. Do not use any other sources but the book. I will provide the pdf.