The Animals
Socrates opens his case with an appeal to the jury to listen to him with an open mind. His accusers have already spoken against him in the flowery manner common in courts of law and have warned the jury not to be deceived by Socrates, a skillful speaker. Socrates immediately addresses himself to that issue, claiming that while his accusers' speeches contained great refinement and skill, he lacks the ability to speak so well. However, he remarks, he will speak the truth, whereas his opponents uttered only falsehood.
Socrates apologizes for his own verbal ineptitude. He mentions that he has never appeared before a court and therefore excuses himself because of his lack of judicial experience. He hopes his commitment to the truth will outweigh such inexperience with the law. Socrates also reveals that his words are entirely unprepared. This spontaneity contrasts with the practiced deliveries of his opponents. Next, Socrates asks the jury's forgiveness should he slip into his more common conversational style. Finally, he requests that the court consider only whether or not his case is just rather than how well he presents it.
Socrates goes on to assert that the current prosecutorsMeletus, Anytus, and Lyconare only the most recent group of his detractors. More dangerous are his plethora of longtime accusers, as they have been spreading the word about Socrates' supposed evil and atheism since they were children. Furthermore, these antagonists remain virtually unknown, except for the dramatist Aristophanes (whose play The Clouds satirizes Socrates). As such, they cannot submit to cross-examination regarding their position. Socrates therefore may only infer his detractors' claims from the charges against himthat he does not believe in the gods, but instead formulates physical explanations for phenomena, and that he instructs others how to overcome stronger arguments with weaker ones through the skillful use of rhetoric.
Socrates begins his...
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