The Ironic Defense of Socrates Plato's Apology

This book offers a controversial interpretation of Plato's Apology of Socrates. By paying unusually close attention to what Socrates indicates about the meaning and extent of his irony, David Leibowitz arrives at unconventional conclusions about Socrates' teaching on virtue, politics, and the gods; the significance of his famous turn from natural philosophy to political philosophy; and the purpose of his insolent 'defense speech'. Leibowitz shows that Socrates is not just a colorful and quirky figure from the distant past but an unrivaled guide to the good life - the thoughtful life - who is as relevant today as in ancient Athens. On the basis of his unconventional understanding of the dialogue as a whole, and of the Delphic oracle story in particular, Leibowitz shows that the Apology is the key to the Platonic corpus, indicating how many of the disparate themes and apparently contradictory conclusions of the other dialogues fit together.

Introduction; 1. Title and preliminary considerations; 2. Prooemium; 3. Prothesis; 4. Defense against the charges of the first accusers; 5. Defense against the present accusers; 6. Digression on nobility and death; 7. Epilogue; 8. Penalty section; 9. Final speech; 10. Conclusion: Socrates' human wisdom and knowledge of virtue.

This book offers a controversial new interpretation of Plato's Apology of Socrates. David Leibowitz arrives at unconventional conclusions about Socrates' teaching on virtue, politics, and the gods; the significance of his famous turn from natural philosophy to political philosophy; and the purpose of his insolent 'defense speech'.

David Leibowitz is currently Assistant Professor of Political Science at Kenyon College and has also taught at Michigan State University and the University of Toronto. He received his PhD from Harvard University.