Why Does Socrates Use Of Irony In Apology

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While facing the charge of corrupting the youth of Athens through acts of teaching how to make a weaker argument stronger through clever rhetoric and dialogue, both Socrates and his accusers illustrate various types of irony in great Socratic fashion throughout the events of Apology. Primarily, while Socrates is facing his corruption charge, the court system is doing the exact same thing to Socrates that he is being charged for. Also, when Socrates addresses the court in reply to his charges he claims that he chooses to do this through his plain style dialogue. However, as the reply to the court continues on, his personal dialogue becomes more like an intricate speech, just as his accusers have posed on him. Finally, Socrates was chosen by…show more content…
This happens when he addresses the court for the first time and assures that he will speak in plain style dialogue. However, as the speech continues on, addressing both the charge of not believing in the proper Gods and corrupting the youth, Socrates’ words get more and more complex and intricate. Through doing so, it makes him greatly contradict his previous statement since he is no longer causally addressing the jury. This attempt by Socrates to make a neatly defined speech shows how he truly does have a creative way with words and is indeed very wise. The following quote by Socrates illustrates his proposal to the court of speaking in his everyday dialogue “One thing I do ask and beg of you, gentlemen: if you hear me making my defense in the same kind of language as I am accustomed to use in the marketplace by the bankers’ tables, where many of you have heard me, and elsewhere, do not be surprised or create a disturbance on that account. The position is this: This is my first appearance in a lawcourt, at the age of seventy; I am therefore simply a stranger to manner of speaking here” (Apology 17c). This quote shows his first plea to the court and is the basis to which he contradicts his actions creating a great example of

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