Faculty Panel Discussion

On June 6, 2003, the alumni discussion of Plato’s Apology of Socrates, which began online in March 2003, went live with a faculty panel discussing the text and answering questions from the audience. The panel discussion was videotaped and can be viewed by clicking on the links below. You can also read transcripts of the program.

Introduction, Moderator Kendall Sharp

Humanities Professor Herman Sinaiko

Classics Professor Danielle Allen

Classics Professor Christopher Faraone

Question 1: Herman Sinaiko responds to a question about Socrates profession of ignorance. What does Sinaiko make of Socrates's awareness of what he does not know?

Question 2: Do human beings need education in order to become human? Is it possible for a civilized society to form in the absence of laws? Herman Sinaiko returns to the issue of education raised in his opening remarks.

Question 3: Danielle Allen is asked to expand on her remarks about concerns over the political power of the younger generation in ancient Athens.

Question 4: Could Socrates have swayed a majority of the jury to his side? One audience member believes that Socrates would have won his case had he not vowed to continue doing exactly what had landed him on trial in the first place. Danielle Allen and Herman Sinaiko discuss the jury's vote and the possibility of another outcome.

Question 5: Socrates invokes "God" and "the gods" a number of times in his address to the jury, at times using language that one audience member describes as vaguely Christian. What does this say about Socrates's view or religion? Christopher Faraone responds.