Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
impeachment , arose . For , Avhen I had heard of these allegations against me , I communed with myself thus : —Wh y did the oracle pronounce such an opinion of me ? and Avh y did it declare that opinion in so general , and therefore , so ambiguous a manner ? Because , in my OAVII mind , I do not conceive myself to be wise in any sense , diffuse or limited . Why then did it declare me to be the Avisest of mankind ? The oracle cannot deviate from the truthnor is it permitted to promulgate error .
, I Avas for a long time puzzled and at a loss to comprehend Avhat Avas signified in the response of the oracle . At last , after mucli difficulty , I turned my attention to some such mode of elucidation as the folloAA'ing . I repaired to one of those characters who are distinguished as wise men among the community , that , by comparing myself Avith him , I might so refute the oracle , by sheAving that he Avas a iviser man than I . You have in the charge before you leaped to the conclusion that I am the
wiser of the tAvo . For this A'ery individual , whose name it is not requisite to mention , being a member of the Senate , I look upon to be the author of the malignant persecution I am suffering , Athenians ! from the circumstances of the occurrence AA'hicb I am immediately about to state . In conversing AA'ith that individual , for the purpose 1 have just previously observed , he appeared to me to consider himself Avise compared with most other menand altogether to entertain a A'good
, ery opinion of himself . But , for that very reason , he Avas not wise ; and so I endeavored to convince him . And , in consequence , I incurred his hatred , and the resentment of many present . Eevoh'ing , therefore , the issue of that coiwersalion in my OAvn mind , I could not but yield to its judgment that I was certainly wiser than he .
h or indeed , among ourselves , he appeared to possess no knowledge that is estimable and excellent ; although he imagined himself to be vastly clever , and gifted Avith much intelligence , Avhen literally he Avas grossly ignorant . NOAVI do not profess to possess such remarkable intelligence as he assumed , nor conceit myself that I do . It therefore appears , that I am in some small degree wiser than that wise individual , because , Avhat I
am ignorant of , 1 do not pretend to knoAV . From him I AA-ent to another of those persons Avho are celebrated amongst you as philosophers or Avise men ; but he appeared to me to be one of the same stamp as the other . And so , having delivered my sentiments as freely to him as I did to the last , I also incurred his displeasure , and brought upon me the indignation of all his friends . Afterwards I visited several others , in spite of my apprehension that I should incur their aversion , and however grie \ -ed I mi ght feel at the circumstance . But I felt it a duty to myself that the singular enunciation of the Delphin
god should be made as public as possible , ancl that the declaration of the oracle , should be submitted to the consideration of every person who is esteemed in society to be knowing and Aviso . And I sAA'ear , by Jove , Athenians , as it behoves me to speak the solemn truth , that the incidents I have noAV related are such as resulted from the conduct I pursued in this philosophic investigation . In fact , they AVIIO are of the hi ghest repute for judgment and acumen appeared to me the most deficient in solving the response of the oracle ; while those AVIIO are lower in public
estimation and more moderate in pretensions , took the most prudent and rational vieAV of the subject . But it is incumbent on me in my simplicity to shew you further , in vindication of myself , where my error lay in supposing that some obliga-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
impeachment , arose . For , Avhen I had heard of these allegations against me , I communed with myself thus : —Wh y did the oracle pronounce such an opinion of me ? and Avh y did it declare that opinion in so general , and therefore , so ambiguous a manner ? Because , in my OAVII mind , I do not conceive myself to be wise in any sense , diffuse or limited . Why then did it declare me to be the Avisest of mankind ? The oracle cannot deviate from the truthnor is it permitted to promulgate error .
, I Avas for a long time puzzled and at a loss to comprehend Avhat Avas signified in the response of the oracle . At last , after mucli difficulty , I turned my attention to some such mode of elucidation as the folloAA'ing . I repaired to one of those characters who are distinguished as wise men among the community , that , by comparing myself Avith him , I might so refute the oracle , by sheAving that he Avas a iviser man than I . You have in the charge before you leaped to the conclusion that I am the
wiser of the tAvo . For this A'ery individual , whose name it is not requisite to mention , being a member of the Senate , I look upon to be the author of the malignant persecution I am suffering , Athenians ! from the circumstances of the occurrence AA'hicb I am immediately about to state . In conversing AA'ith that individual , for the purpose 1 have just previously observed , he appeared to me to consider himself Avise compared with most other menand altogether to entertain a A'good
, ery opinion of himself . But , for that very reason , he Avas not wise ; and so I endeavored to convince him . And , in consequence , I incurred his hatred , and the resentment of many present . Eevoh'ing , therefore , the issue of that coiwersalion in my OAvn mind , I could not but yield to its judgment that I was certainly wiser than he .
h or indeed , among ourselves , he appeared to possess no knowledge that is estimable and excellent ; although he imagined himself to be vastly clever , and gifted Avith much intelligence , Avhen literally he Avas grossly ignorant . NOAVI do not profess to possess such remarkable intelligence as he assumed , nor conceit myself that I do . It therefore appears , that I am in some small degree wiser than that wise individual , because , Avhat I
am ignorant of , 1 do not pretend to knoAV . From him I AA-ent to another of those persons Avho are celebrated amongst you as philosophers or Avise men ; but he appeared to me to be one of the same stamp as the other . And so , having delivered my sentiments as freely to him as I did to the last , I also incurred his displeasure , and brought upon me the indignation of all his friends . Afterwards I visited several others , in spite of my apprehension that I should incur their aversion , and however grie \ -ed I mi ght feel at the circumstance . But I felt it a duty to myself that the singular enunciation of the Delphin
god should be made as public as possible , ancl that the declaration of the oracle , should be submitted to the consideration of every person who is esteemed in society to be knowing and Aviso . And I sAA'ear , by Jove , Athenians , as it behoves me to speak the solemn truth , that the incidents I have noAV related are such as resulted from the conduct I pursued in this philosophic investigation . In fact , they AVIIO are of the hi ghest repute for judgment and acumen appeared to me the most deficient in solving the response of the oracle ; while those AVIIO are lower in public
estimation and more moderate in pretensions , took the most prudent and rational vieAV of the subject . But it is incumbent on me in my simplicity to shew you further , in vindication of myself , where my error lay in supposing that some obliga-