- Published: September 28, 2022
- Updated: September 28, 2022
- University / College: New York University (NYU)
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 27
Teacher I. Argument in Plato’s apology One of the most inflammatory arguments in the Apology was when Socrates described himself as agadfly who is stinging a lazy horse which is a state. This is evident in these passages which he asserted;
I am that gadfly which God has given the state and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you. And as you will not easily find another like me, I would advise you to spare me. I dare say that you may feel irritated at being suddenly awakened when you are caught napping; and you may think that if you were to strike me dead. . . unless God in his care of you gives you another gadfly
II. Deductive or inductive
The argument was inductive because the premise that Socrates is God given to the state as a godfly attempts to establish his conclusion that he be spared or not persecuted because the state cannot easily find another like him or that the state should find another like him to persecute him
III. Strong or weak?
Reason is weak (2 reasons)
a. The argument was weak because the premise is unreasonable. Socrates in the argument was seeking an exemption because of divine exclusion that he is special and god given and therefore has the license to sting a lazy state like a gadfly.
b. Socrates would have argued that the accusation leveled against were unjust and unreasonable instead of criticizing the state as lazy. Socrates idea was just ahead of his time and he should have made it an argument and not some god given attribute that he cannot be persecuted.
