Socrates as the Gadfly: Challenging Athenian Values

In his closing arguments, Socrates will continue to insist that the unexamined life is not worth living. In exploring that issue, we’ll address the following questions:

1. How does Socrates try to convince the jury that it is their loss if he is put to death?
2. Why would Socrates refuse to beg the jury for his life?
3. How does Socrates see himself as a Greek hero? 

Recommended Reading: Plato. The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo. Translated by H. Tredennick and H. Tarrant. New York: Penguin, 2003.