Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
lion Avas placed upon me to prove the oracle incontestable . For , subsequently , I repaired to politicians , poets , actors , both tragic ancl comic , authors , ancl various other characters , so that having detected my ignorance by the comparison , I might satisfy myself I Avas far more illiterate than any one among them . Then taking up their different works , particularly those Avhich seemed to have been taken the most pains AvithI read them throughthat I miht make myself acquainted
, , g Avitli the different subjects of their intellectual labors , aud make myself better informed . But , if you will believe me , Athenians , though I blush to say it , yet the truth must be told , I assert , that any one individual in this assembl y could speak more to the purpose on any one of the arguments than they have written . Ancl , too , Avitli regard to the poets Avhom I visited , I quickly perceived that their poems had not been composed under the influence of
any wisdom of their own , but from the impetus of some sort of divine inspiration , similar to what seers and augurs are subjected . That description of persons are accustomed to utter many brilliant aphorisms , but Avithout understanding any of them . So poets appear to be affected by some such ecstatic emotion . But I also perceived that those persons consider themselves the Avisest of mortals on account of the celebrity that their poetry and other
productions had obtained . In Avhich self-conceited opinion I could not acquiesce . From them , therefore , I Avent my Avay cogitating within myself , and considering , that what had made me superior to the moral and political philosophers with AA'hom I had associated , the mean opinion I entertained of myself , rendered me superior in wisdom and knowledge .
to the poets . As a last resource , I repaired to that class of society which is composed of artificers ancl mechanics , conscious of my ignorance , and , in short , possessing a very humble opinion of myself altogether . But 1 was satisfied that I should find them acquainted with many useful arts , and I Avas not deceived in my judgment . Now , with what they Avere well acquainted , I Avas totally ignorant . Therefore , as far as such animal
knoAvledge Aveut , they might be justly designated Aviser than " myself . But , Athenians , they seemed to me guilty of the very same mental error which I had cause to reprehend in the poets , the philosophers , and the politicians . Because they executed their work well , and displayed some skill in their respective art , each thought himself equally Avise in matters of a far higher nature . This sad defect clouded that skill and cunning Avhich they really did possess . So that it occasioned me to examine myself by the opinion of the oracle . The question in my mind was , should I esteem myself wise , being , in one sense , lAot so wise as the artisan , as to mechanical skill , but , as to learning and literature ,
wiser ? Could I reckon myself Avise on either of these points according to the sense conveyed in the response of the oracle ? I decided in the negative , and therefore deemed it most prudent to continue in the same frame of mind . Now , Athenians , this curious investigation has given rise to much animosity against me . A rancor that is fierce and intolerant . So that , through the activity of its agents , numerous malicious calumnies concerning me and my dogmas have been hatched and propagated . The great thorn of irritation is , that I denominate myself a p hilosopher . Ancl every one concludes that I assume to be Avise in those points of metaphysical intelligence for an ignorance of which I have rebuked others .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
lion Avas placed upon me to prove the oracle incontestable . For , subsequently , I repaired to politicians , poets , actors , both tragic ancl comic , authors , ancl various other characters , so that having detected my ignorance by the comparison , I might satisfy myself I Avas far more illiterate than any one among them . Then taking up their different works , particularly those Avhich seemed to have been taken the most pains AvithI read them throughthat I miht make myself acquainted
, , g Avitli the different subjects of their intellectual labors , aud make myself better informed . But , if you will believe me , Athenians , though I blush to say it , yet the truth must be told , I assert , that any one individual in this assembl y could speak more to the purpose on any one of the arguments than they have written . Ancl , too , Avitli regard to the poets Avhom I visited , I quickly perceived that their poems had not been composed under the influence of
any wisdom of their own , but from the impetus of some sort of divine inspiration , similar to what seers and augurs are subjected . That description of persons are accustomed to utter many brilliant aphorisms , but Avithout understanding any of them . So poets appear to be affected by some such ecstatic emotion . But I also perceived that those persons consider themselves the Avisest of mortals on account of the celebrity that their poetry and other
productions had obtained . In Avhich self-conceited opinion I could not acquiesce . From them , therefore , I Avent my Avay cogitating within myself , and considering , that what had made me superior to the moral and political philosophers with AA'hom I had associated , the mean opinion I entertained of myself , rendered me superior in wisdom and knowledge .
to the poets . As a last resource , I repaired to that class of society which is composed of artificers ancl mechanics , conscious of my ignorance , and , in short , possessing a very humble opinion of myself altogether . But 1 was satisfied that I should find them acquainted with many useful arts , and I Avas not deceived in my judgment . Now , with what they Avere well acquainted , I Avas totally ignorant . Therefore , as far as such animal
knoAvledge Aveut , they might be justly designated Aviser than " myself . But , Athenians , they seemed to me guilty of the very same mental error which I had cause to reprehend in the poets , the philosophers , and the politicians . Because they executed their work well , and displayed some skill in their respective art , each thought himself equally Avise in matters of a far higher nature . This sad defect clouded that skill and cunning Avhich they really did possess . So that it occasioned me to examine myself by the opinion of the oracle . The question in my mind was , should I esteem myself wise , being , in one sense , lAot so wise as the artisan , as to mechanical skill , but , as to learning and literature ,
wiser ? Could I reckon myself Avise on either of these points according to the sense conveyed in the response of the oracle ? I decided in the negative , and therefore deemed it most prudent to continue in the same frame of mind . Now , Athenians , this curious investigation has given rise to much animosity against me . A rancor that is fierce and intolerant . So that , through the activity of its agents , numerous malicious calumnies concerning me and my dogmas have been hatched and propagated . The great thorn of irritation is , that I denominate myself a p hilosopher . Ancl every one concludes that I assume to be Avise in those points of metaphysical intelligence for an ignorance of which I have rebuked others .