Summary: Socrates is a lazy asshole, but he kind of has a point.
Commentary: The last chunk of Socrates's defense has two main points:
1. Why doesn't Socrates become a politician/advisor if he's going to go around trying to "not teach" people all day.
This is a fair point, and I'd point Socrates to the sections in Fruits of Solitude on discipline. He talks about a voice that tells him not to do stuff. Most decent philosophy talks about how to not listen to that voice, but whatever, he's Socrates.
2. If he's corrupting the youth so much, why aren't the older youths that I corrupted and/or parents complaining about him?
Assuming this is true, and all the criticism is being made by the same couple guys, a fair point. I don't know if that is true though.
Summary: Socrates tricks Meletus into feeding the troll and proves nothing.
Commentary: Plato switches into a dialogue-esque mode for a bit, then into wall of text. I'm kind of surprised neither of the versions I'm looking at edited in quotations marks, paragraph breaks, etc.
The crux of this section is Socrates doing his Socratic method thing to prove... absolutely nothing.
But now please to answer the next question: Can a man believe in spiritual and divine agencies, and not in spirits or demigods?
He cannot.
I am glad that I have extracted that answer, by the assistance of the court; nevertheless you swear in the indictment that I teach and believe in divine or spiritual agencies (new or old, no matter for that); at any rate, I believe in spiritual agencies, as you say and swear in the affidavit; but if I believe in divine beings, I must believe in spirits or demigods; - is not that true? Yes, that is true, for I may assume that your silence gives assent to that. Now what are spirits or demigods? are they not either gods or the sons of gods? Is that true?
Yes, that is true.
But this is just the ingenious riddle of which I was speaking: the demigods or spirits are gods, and you say first that I don't believe in gods, and then again that I do believe in gods; that is, if I believe in demigods. For if the demigods are the illegitimate sons of gods, whether by the Nymphs or by any other mothers, as is thought, that, as all men will allow, necessarily implies the existence of their parents. You might as well affirm the existence of mules, and deny that of horses and asses. Such nonsense, Meletus, could only have been intended by you as a trial of me. You have put this into the indictment because you had nothing real of which to accuse me. But no one who has a particle of understanding will ever be convinced by you that the same man can believe in divine and superhuman things, and yet not believe that there are gods and demigods and heroes.
I have said enough in answer to the charge of Meletus: any elaborate defence is unnecessary; but as I was saying before, I certainly have many enemies, and this is what will be my destruction if I am destroyed; of that I am certain; - not Meletus, nor yet Anytus, but the envy and detraction of the world, which has been the death of many good men, and will probably be the death of many more; there is no danger of my being the last of them.
Rule #1. Never give him a straight answer.
It's not clear why Meletus answers simply to the negative to Socrates's initial question. Why can't a man believe in spiritual/divine categories X and Y and not believe in P and Q? Why not flat out tell Socrates you're not here to explain his beliefs to the others?
Rule #2. Don't let him move on after "proving" something that he hasn't.
Proving that you believe in demigods doesn't prove that you believe in the gods of Athens. You might believe in other gods. You might believe in demigods without believe they aren't the bastards of the gods. Who the hell knows! Socrates doesn't specify, and "proves" his point by saying he does it.
I don't know what Meletus's actual obligations were under Athenian law. Did he have to submit to Socrates's questions? Could he be interviewed but refuse to give answers? Can he question/accuse Socrates himself besides just giving awkward answers that Socrates can twist in whatever way?
Either way, he comes across as an idiot here, as Socrates uses him as an unwitting prop in his non-proof.
58: If you don't have job-work, work on art, gardening, etc.
Topic List: Ignorance, Education, Luxury, Inconsideration, Disappointment And Resignation, Murmurs, Censoriousness, Bounds of Charity, Frugality or Bounty, Discipline, Industry
Summary: Socrates humble brags and nonsequitars for a couple pages.
Commentary: I love when the translation used in T5FSOB is publicly available and still considered decent. Makes it much easier to grab and go. I'll be reading it side by side with the more modern and also popular Grube translation from here. Which one I prefer might effect what translation I use for other texts.
People make a big deal about the "corrupting the youth" part of the charges, but he's also accused of not believing in the city's gods, which he did do, and which carried the death penalty for other people. Add in the fact that he was associated with the recently overthrown Spartan puppet government, and I'm not saying we should execute people for being assholes and heretics, just that it doesn't really seem surprising that the Athenians chose to execute this particular asshole/heretic.
I mean, look at this:
I mean when they told you to be upon your guard, and not to let yourselves be deceived by the force of my eloquence. They ought to have been ashamed of saying this, because they were sure to be detected as soon as I opened my lips and displayed my deficiency; they certainly did appear to be most shameless in saying this, unless by the force of eloquence they mean the force of truth; for then I do indeed admit that I am eloquent.
Yes, Socrates, you're a terrible public speaker, but also totally truthful. This isn't a borderline self contradictory statement at all.
Then he goes and repeats himself for a paragraph or two without actually saying/proving much of anything. Then starts telling some rambly stories that're tangentially related to his actual argument. Seriously, he's literally one of those assholes that yells at random people on the quad while they're just trying to go to class.
PrOcaSTiNATIoN iSN't WEAKNesS, It's A PROteCTION RESPOnSE.
Summary: Do Hard Things if You Want an Easy Life
Commentary: I've decided to move these into the "sand" slot, like the poems, because I can't find a good way to charge through it. I don't want to summarize 4 sections and 20 notes a date, but I also don't want to spend the next month and a half on it. Doing one tonight since I got home from work late and had to roll into my writing group, but hopefully moving to Plato's dialogues (ugh) tomorrow.
55. If you want your family to live happy and easy, learn discipline.
56. Everyone in the family should know their job. There should be a time and place for everything. When in doubt, go with God.
Did William Penn invent, "Do Hard Things if You Want an Easy Life"?
Topic List: Ignorance, Education, Luxury, Inconsideration, Disappointment And Resignation, Murmurs, Censoriousness, Bounds of Charity, Frugality or Bounty, Discipline
Why are there no videos about the money lender/pawn shop balls?
Summary: Glass houses, stones, etc.
Commentary:
Censoriousness
41. We are prone to criticizing others in ways we wouldn't want ourselves. Nothing is worse than harping on others faults and ignoring your own.
42. When we see other people we are quick with critiques, but we are clueless when we're on our own.
43. This is because of our bad nature. We think too highly of ourselves, and would rather criticize than help.
44. (43 repeated, but especially about money.)
45. We refuse to help others with our money and blame them for misfortune.
46. We have a right to criticize, but a heart to help. Anything else is cruelty, not justice.
Bounds of Charity
47. Lend exactly the amount you can afford, not more or less. Especially if it will help others more than it hurts you.
48. If someone pays you back, that's good for you. If not, don't ruin their life to try to get it back. You owe God anyway.
49. Be generous and merciful and you will be rewarded.
These are mostly fine, if repetitive. Could do with a little more "be a good person for its own sake" and less "be good so paradise will be even paradisier."
Topic List: Ignorance, Education, Luxury, Inconsideration, Disappointment And Resignation, Murmurs, Censoriousness, Bounds of Charity
