The context of the trial is almost always as important or more important than the person being tried or the decision that was rendered. However, this is absent from the Socratic discourse. Socrates' trial took place in 399 BC or 400 BC, so just a few years after the end of the Peloponnesian War (431 BC to 404 BC). Socrates survived the war and the epidemic that befell Athens, taking the life of its greatest political leader. When he was put on trial he could have said: "The rigors of the Peloponnesian war troubled the minds of my accusers, because they also lost their friends, relatives and political leaders. It turned them against me because I always criticized those people while they were alive. My accusers suffer because of an event that I did not cause. The war was not started by me and I was old to fight in it. Will their suffering be lessened if they make me suffer? No, because their friends, relatives and political leaders will remain dead. My accusers could have said that I spread the disease that killed so many people during the war. If that were the case I myself would already be dead like most people who got sick. Who among the survivors can accuse me of having survived without accusing himself?" And so on... Socrates however does not draw attention away from himself by using the context in which he was tried, something that would be admissible and would probably be done by any lawyer (believe me I am a lawyer and I know what I am talking about). No, he kept within the confines of the accusation, and at best examined the character of his accusers. This cannot be considered a good legal strategy either, because Socrates knew that he was unpopular and that flaunting his unpopularity would be an almost certain way to get a conviction. This is where things get more interesting: Socrates said that it was better to suffer an injustice than to act unfairly. And yet he practically forced his judges to convict him by refusing to use a defense strategy that could have led to his acquittal. So Socratic's defense speech may be considered an exceptionally ironic one: it was the philosopher's last sting at an unjust city condemned by him to pass another unjust judgment.

Thanks Matt and Shane for leading me to this gem

“As I’ve said before, I’ve got a lot of haters” - Socrates Absolute gem I love this.

In greece 8 years ago they recreated Socrates trial in an ancient roman agora using ancient greek. Next to us there was a screen with modern greek and english subtitles. I watched It 2 times. The aesthetic and the vibes while talking ancient greek... gives you goosebumps. It was epic ✌🏾

"You think by silencing me you're avoiding critique of your actions but I assure you more critics will arise & they'll be younger & even harsher. Remember eliminating your critics isn't the way to improvement or redemption, the best way forward is self improvement" Thank you for this, no doubt I'll be listening to it a few times over

Back in college, a guy I knew thought it was "cool" and "edgy" to dismiss Socrates as basically being a "bum", based on his description as being shabbily dressed, having no actual job and just hanging out at the marketplace talking to random people all day. My response: Not only did that "bum" regularly attract the best educated, most successful and brightest minds of the city to have debates with him (which he pretty much always WON) but his impact on history was so profound that 2 and a half *thousand* years later---you still know his name. So put some *respect* on it. After all, do you really think people will remember YOU for even a fraction as long?

Technology has advanced by light years but human nature has remained the same.

In Indian philosophy he is very fondly remembered as the great philosopher & wise man - Sukrat.

This was incredible, you did an excellent job conveying this in modern language. I appreciate you. Cheers!

"Wisest is he, who knows he does not know." -Socrates

As one who read Socrates’ defence in Ancient Greek, I was skeptical at first when I heard that you were putting Socrates into modern parlance and vernacular. I was worried it would descend into gutter speak or sound vulgar… but by God you have brought the man’s spirit to life! Profound job, keeping the Gad Fly alive!

Even after 2500 years still one of the greatest speechs of a man ,that defends not just one man but the right of every man to articulate his thoughts to well meaning words to convey an important message for humanity !

Socrates was the one who lead me down the path of Philosophy, the one who spoke to me in a way I understood and loved. I marvelled at his wisdom, and loved him for his honesty and courage. Many years have passed since we met, and my love for him is still above all others, is it his humanity? I think so. So now I have listened to his defence, and find it so moving, and I love him even more now. He is always the one I choose, above all others, to have at the top table at my very exclusive dinner party. Thank you.

I would absolutely love seeing this acted on a set in a film or on the stage! This deserves DRAMATIC voices! ❤️

In the Iranian culture everyone knows of him as a great man of philosophy in history. We call him "Soghrat".

This is absolutely phenomenal. As a Greek I studied Socrates in school back in the day. Only in the recent years I finally understood that Socrates was literally "cancelled" to death by his sycophants.

This was amazing. I’ve not heard his defense before. Thank you.

At 76 now myself, my journey is coming close to completion, and I feel mostly at peace. 4 kids, 2 each with two females, 20 years apart, (early 20's & early 40's I was for these two crops) so it was a busy life, worked throughout, fairly active, busy jobs, so all in all, felt like I did what was needed at most times. Retired ten years so far, saved money dwindling, a bit saddened by a concussion some years back that left me partially compromised on mobility, so now shuffling along a bit tentatively, feel like meaningful activity is behind me, so now just putting in the remaining time, is a bit dreary, but overall health is hanging on, so guess I will too until comes the next big hitch, then I'll be satisfied to move along before I should become completely incapacitated or no longer possess my mental cognition....then I'll be content to move on, accept the inevitable. What becomes of my consciousness, well, just have to face that as it comes as I accepted my life in the first place when I first gained self-awareness. Peace, out.

Socrates has been my hero and hearing this warmed my soul. Thank you.

It is impressive how much easier it is to follow his thoughts in this rendition. Fantastic job, thank you very much!

Socrates is the proof that with a tiny assistance of logic even without knowledge of subject you can dismiss most claims.

A movie made of The Trial of Socrates would be timely and it would offer a role of a lifetime for an actor to play.

Matt McCusker Sent me here! Hope you get all the subscribers you deserve!

I really enjoyed this. It really brought Socrates to life for me.

"An unexamined life is a waste." A bit of wisdom I see in my self and others. Especially others!

Beautiful. I was engaged throughout. Thank you for making his words more palatable & easy to absorb. Very inspiring!

Ironically enough he outlived all of them since we still listen to him today. This trial brought him eternal life.

I didn't expect this to be so wonderful and enlightening. Reading some ancient text like the writings of Cicero in a direct translation leaves one distracted by the style and diction and missing so much. I just learned this now, and I'm so grateful.

The remarkable thing is his words have survived over two thousand years through centuries of upheaval and change.

I never knew what “corrupting the youth of Athens” was until now. I think it means “young people are using annoying rhetoric to talk back to their parents, and these kids learned this rhetoric from Socrates”.

This was amazing. I've been looking for something just like this. Please make more!

Thank you for making this in modern language and simplified manner. Even for a teenager can understand. Am 31..i wish I learned about this speech earlier. I pray to God you and your family be blessed.

Interestingly in the beginning I got a bit annoyed by his "clever" ways of proving things, but later his speech teared my eyes in the face of his honesty and courage to speak truth to power.

My mother and I do not have a good relationship. She said to me about a month ago, the last time we spoke, "Why do you always have to talk about **virtue?** Why can't you talk about fun things?" But hearing Socrates say, "I believe the greatest good is to discuss virtue everyday," it feels weird that I can really connect with someone who lived over 2000 years ago. He was wise beyond hundreds of centuries.

Very moving. 32:02 'Remember, eliminating your critics isn't the way to improvement or redemption. The best way forward is self improvement.''

Very interesting. I feel like the view that death should not be feared and life should be lived as best as possible is one that resonates strongly with me. Thank you.

Thank you very much for this. It is indeed very accessible and very well put together.

This was a well constructed depiction of the trial of Socrates. It brakes my heart to know that the words of ignorant people have lead to the demise of so many wise individuals. While Socrates was a wise man and he brought about the idea of rational inquiry he was also a cautionary tale. If corruption goes unchecked and the public gives in to the easy way of blind obedience without the light of Socratic Inquiry to judge weather in idea is moral or not then history will continue to repeat itself and we will never truly be the best versions of ourselves.

This was such a fantastic rewording. You can get a sense of Socrates' personality, and why he must have really annoyed those accusing him. I look forward to hearing more of these 'modernized' speeches from historical figures.

It’s heartbreaking that the majority voted for the death of that marvelous mind. The cowards. Thank you for modernizing Socrates words for my simple mind - this is a real treasure.

Brilliant rendition my friend. What a blessing you are by conveying such wisdom in our vernacular

This is one of the most well articulated and courageous statements I’ve ever heard. Thank you for bringing this to us.

This is incredible. Not sure how long or difficult it was to create but it was worth it! Thank you for taking the time to make wisdom more accessible!

Its amazing how well they were able to record this in writing.

If my sons seem more concerned about wealth than virtue, if they pretend to be something they are not, correct them. Well said ❤👏👏

I lived this translation. I hope teachers who cover Socrates as I did when I taught find and use this to assist younglings in understanding Socrates' trial.

Well done. True to the original. Socrates last statements, especially very last, is pure brutal honesty. His last request turns the tables on those who sentenced him to death .... IMHO, he has the last laugh.

His reward was immortality, his name will be remembered forever.

I have often been at odds with modern philosophy. The more I learn about it's birth, the more I understand that they are like many. A misunderstanding by those who did not understand. I hope the best for all to understand better in the future.

Absolutely Amazing Thank You 🙏

Dear Sir. I humbly thank you for this 'product'. I've often wondered if Socrates was something worth looking into, but being a scientist by training I never got around to it. These two videos however are absolutely amazing to me in ways the grandure of which I cannot yet set into words. And I am not just being pompous! Thought I'm not blind to the fact that my writing seems like a 17 th century sermon. This 'something greater' IS what I am feeling, right now. And even though non-English by both birth and citizenry, never have my English flowed with such ease - or even possible grandure. Being what I have previously considered a troupled spirit, I have a feeling of 'having come home' in the company of the Sokrates you bring to life before my inner eye. A possible sense of ease is coming over me, as I now have something, your videos, to show to people who do not seem to understand the life in persuit of honesty and higher truths, that I have been trying to live. Often even without my being consciously aware of it. I think I might be about to awaken from a nightmare, of living the frustrations of a possible 'truth seeker' perhaps not a million miles from Socrates himself, but awakening to find out that I no longer seem to be alone with this sort of life. Others, you, Socrates, have given it meaning, shown me a socialy accepted company, what I may very well belong to? And this fills me with gratitude and hope. I'll stop here with a simple 'Thanks', before I labour this point into a youtube still-birth treatice of a comment.

Well done! I’m pretty persnickety when it comes to Socrates. It might be mentioned that they didn’t have prisons; death or banishment was the only choice.

Thanks for posting! This was awesome!

Never underestimate the power of those willing to ask questions.

That was so completely awesome.Think i will check it out one more time.Thank you for bringing Socrates back to life for us.

Your channel will grow to more than 100k if you continue this type of quality content! Nice vid!

Oh how wonderful this was. Thank you ❤️

Well modernised, clear and lucid. Thanks for such a useful video!

Made my evening listening to this. Grateful 🙏 Best wishes.

I'm deeply touch by how this history being explain .Legendary Lore you did a fantastic job, I praise you for that thank you Legendary Lore for taking your time for all this.

The shaman guided me here. Converting this to 432 hz for optimum chakra dump #dawgz

Thanks I just hit you by chance or maybe by divine intervention for I enjoyed this immensely and am inspired as I depart your work with a desire to live amore virtuous life ! Looking forward to the next enlighten video!😀

This is an excellent concept for a UKposts channel (I've just subscribed). This makes the unaccessible..... accessible. The content creator is in and of himself very wise indeed not to have cheapened the experience with tacky adverts interrupting. Adverts would be disrespectful of Socrates. I'm going to share this channel with people I know who will appreciate it.

I think this does an amazing job of showing the informality of his speech here, because all old words sound kinda fancy to us the index is often lost

Excellent, thank you for putting this together

This is incredible. Like time travel. Also love the “leading you astray” edit. What a brilliant mind. Truly exploits our “chronological snobbery.”

The Apostle Paul said, "Question all things. Hold on to that which is good." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Great content! The narrative is absolutely compelling and it has made me feel as if I myself was there in the trial! Thanks so much for sharing!

This was bloody brilliant! Great video!

Excellent work and thank you for your effort in introducing to the public one of the greatest minds in human history. I was born and raised in Athens. During our high school years we studied Plato's Apology in order to learn the grammar and syntax of the Attic dialect spoken by the Athenians in Socrates era. Once I had a hard argument with the teacher that the process of analyzing the structure of the language to an unnecessary depth was in fact leading us away from the beautiful and profoundly useful contents of this epic speech. In response he called me an "Athenian heretic". I loved the name and kept it ever since. The original book from my high school years is still in my library in my house. It is the only one I kept. At the moment I am 63 years old and live in the Cayman Islands visiting my home and beloved Athens every year. Your channel deserves millions of subscriptions.

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! Truly inspired!

This is great! Please make more! What about Alcabiades 1 perhaps? And as some comments already suggested, if you want to really give viewers the opportunity to wrestle with the depth of the dialogue, perhaps a little slower in speech would be great. Thanks for this again!

Socrates was Plato's teacher, who was Aristotle's teacher, who was Alexander the Great's teacher. So Alexander got the best teaching a person could ever have

Absolutely fantastic!

Thank you for this special gift today. It shines an extra light in my mind. It was a very illuminating modern version of the final argument of this source of wisdom.

What a time to be alive and have this type of content!

Very enlightening. Thank you Socrates for telling me what virtue is.

Oh how I love this man. His death was one of humanity’s greatest tragedies, yet the way he faced it was the most profound and lasting proof of the truths he discovered and professed. How much today we need his love of the truth and the courage to defend it.

So well done. Thank you!!

This is great, but I would love to have a theatrical version with actors and such!

Hmmm... I think I preferred Plato's original... even in translation the language is far more elegant. Call me old-fashioned, if you must... could be 'cause I'm old! 😉

This is truly outstanding. Thank you for sharing this, and showing just how far AI generated text and images have come in such a short time. Remarkable.

This is fantastic! Thank you!

This was inspiring! Thank you for making this

I feel like i've just attended my first ever Uni lecture. The Oracle told Socrates that he was the wisest. Being such must have left him feeling somewhat ostracized and lonely. Maybe he needed to convert everyone to his way of thinking in order to have some friends to hang out with. Maybe he was at odds with the Zeitgeist or Athena was using him to change it. I can't help but feel that he really didn't believe in the Gods and maybe even thought himself to be above them; better than them. The temple of Athena still stands.but nothing of Socrates remains unless he etched his name on her temple, which would have really set a damaging precedent and really seriously alarmed her." He's going to wreck my beautiful temple!!! Get rid of him."

What a voice you have brother. Thank you so so much for this. You enriched our lives❤❤

This was just epic! Thank you

muitíssimo obrigado, como um avido estudioso de filosofia, e um aluno tentando entrar na pós-graduação em filosofia, acredito que o modo que foi realizada essa "atualização" é deveras muito boa, guardando à mensagem de 2000 mil anos para nossos dias.

Absolutely Sensational! Just made me realize how much energy I usually waste on just deciphering the text, instead of focusing on the true content. Would really love to hear Homers Illiad in a modernized version like this!! It’s claimed to be the main inspiration of Alexander III. But the way it’s written its just tedious to read ...

The Martyr of Wisdom and Truth.

Thank you for this- can i recommend a slower, and more theatric timed manor of speaking? sometimes its sounds like your rushing to get through it. other times your spot on! thanks again for a great video this was phenomenal haha

Wow. My mind craves narratives on this level. Wonderful production thank you. I viewed a youtube lecture today that raised questions of the whether Socrates was real or not. Whether real or not, what is written in his name is thought provoking.

Thank you so much for this great video! Socrates’ prophecy has come true - Jon Stewart, #GeorgeCarlin, #JerrySeinfeld, & many more! May we become as Socrates & rise up in this time! Engage!

How TF have i not found this channel before. Outstanding work!

First of all, thank you for modernizing the dialogue. I have read some of Socrates' debates and even took a "Socratic Method of Selling" course once. After having heard this video, it is quite clear that Socrates was much better at questioning than at making speeches. He's being accused - not once did I hear the words "proof" or "evidence" mentioned by him, even when some of his students, with their fathers were among the audience. Maybe he was old, maybe he got tired, and just maybe he wished to be remembered as the first of the great philosophers, or perhaps leave us with his famous phrase before dying - "If I know something with certainty, is that I know nothing". Question everything!

Main takeaway for me ... "From virtue flows prosperity of state". Very true. Same as As you sow so shall you reap. This notion is universal, in all religions. I am in India. At the time of King Rama almost everyone was very virtuous, and history knows there was great prosperity. I see similarities between Socrates and Christ in what society did to them. Foolish people.

This was a fantastic piece of work. Really good job and I love how it connects well.

The Buddha was 100 years earlier in India, Socrates beliefs and thoughts seem parallel with many other perennial wisdom masters. Listening to this version of his speech and looking at the events unfolding in our time illustrates what the great philosopher Snake Plisken said “The more things change the more they stay the same”. Twenty four hundred years have passed and the human condition remains unchanged. Another great philosopher Albert Einstein said “Our technology is overrunning our humanity”. I wonder if the human race will ever really wake up and live by the words Socrates spoke or if we are eternally doomed to repeat events in perpetuity.

Beautiful translation and delivery!

Having red and re-red Plato’s ‘Apology of Socrates’ several times in French and Italian translations for the last half-century, I was pretty curious to listen to it translated into English as well. I am extremely surprised, though, by the TONE, the TEMPO, i.e. the speedy PACE, and also the uniform self-assurance of the present reading. I’d never felt the ‘Apology’ that way at all so far - excessively fast and authoritative in my view. But is it just a personal impression of mine, or did anyone else had the same kind of feeling?