![]() The sophists (from the Greek ‘ sophos‘ for ‘wise’) were often employed to teach the children of the wealthy as hired “court coaches,” they have been considered trail-blazers in the legal profession. In the text, Socrates distinguishes himself from “the sophists,” a fairly new class of intellectuals for hire. Socrates, well known and now 70 years old, is on trial… for his life. The dialog is set in 399 BCE at the open air courthouse at the Agora. Although it is not autobiography - it’s Plato’s writing, after all - it nevertheless conveys the spirit of Socrates’ own account of his life’s mission. The Apology, written by Plato in the wake of Socrates’ death, recounts the famous speech Socrates delivered to his fellow Athenians at his trial. Our primary sources of information about him are his disciple, Plato, and a couple of his contemporaries: the historian Xenophon and the playwright Aristophanes. It was “the place to be,” whether to hang out, or to attend to civic, religious, or intellectual life.Socrates left us neither books nor any other written record of his thought or life. ![]() ![]() The Agora was a cultural center of Athens, housing fountains and statues, a number of other public buildings (including the mint), a market, and various temples. ![]()
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