Topic: For your first paper, you will basically write about whether you think Socrates is truly guilty of the charges made against him, particularly the charge that he corrupts the youth.
In Plato's Apology one of the main accusations made against him is that he "makes the weaker argument stronger." That is, Socrates is guilty of arguing against traditionally held beliefs in favor of new, unusual ones, and this is what is really behind the official charge that he corrupts the youth. This activity of questioning beliefs is at the heart of philosophy, then and now. In the Apology, Socrates explains and defends his way of life-the life of a philosopher-and concludes that "the unexamined life is not worth living." The philosopher's life, then, is the examined life.
For your first paper, you will draw evidence from the Apology to do the following.
1. Summarize Socrates' main points of defense. This should consist of two parts:
A. Summarize Socrates' explanation of his activity of questioning others, what he means when he says that he is wisest of all, and why he thinks "the unexamined life is not worth living."
B. Identify the premises and conclusion of one of the arguments that he uses to show Meletus, his accuser, that the official charge of corrupting the youth of Athens doesn't hold up. These arguments are from 24c to 28b (pages 37-31)
2. Evaluate Socrates' defense. Provide reasons (premises) to show whether or not you think Socrates does a good job of defending himself. More specifically, does his explanation of his activity and his argument with Meletus show that he is a corrupting influence and is guilty of "making the weaker argument stronger"?