Throughout the Discourses, Epictetus referred in reverential tones to Socrates. Socrates dedicated his entire life in helping everyone he met to lead a more virtuous life. Socrates lived what he preached up until his last breath. The APOLOGY has the title 'THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES AT HIS TRIAL'.

In the spring of 399 B.C., when Socrates was 70 years old, he was accused of impiety and of corrupting the youth. The chief accuser was Meletus, who was seconded by Anytus and Lyco. Meletus is mentioned in the EUTHYPHRO as a youth and in the APOLOGY he is said to have been incensed by Socrates' criticism of the poets. Anytus was a wealthy Athenian who had served as General of the armies. He was a bitter enemy of all the sophists and especially Socrates because of his criticism of employing his son in his tannery when the son was fitted for higher things. Lyco played a minor role in all of this.

Socrates was tried before a court of 501. After Socrates was found guilty, the penalty still remained to be determined. The convicted was to propose a counter penalty and the APOLOGY is substantially the speech Socrates made before the court. The high moral character and genuine religious faith of Socrates are made abundantly clear throughout this whole discourse. His condemnation is to be explained by the general hostility to the sophists. Socrates was not a sophist. He did not teach for pay and did not promise any definite results. His aim was to show the way to righteousness, to the perfection of the individual soul. Socrates tried to make them think, and thinking, especially on matters of religion, is not welcomed by the slothful or the conservative.

APOLOGY is one part of the Loeb Classical Library book named PLATO I EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO, PHAEDO, PHAEDRUS. It is available for around $20. The book was originally published in 1914 and was translated by the eminent scholar, Harold North Fowler. A wealthy American named James Loeb began in the early 1900's to commission the leading scholars of ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts to translate into English the classic writings. He had the brilliance to format the clothbound books with the original Greek and Latin writings on the left page with the translated English on the right page. With generous footnotes throughout you get the essence of the original writings. The Greek Classics are all hard bound in green with the Latin works in red. Mr. Loeb donated the Loeb Classical Library to Harvard College which has kept the books in print and has added to the collection.

The books are constructed using traditional high quality workmanship with only the finest acid-free paper and binding materials used. They easily fit in your jacket pocket or purse and will stand up to your repeated readings. By having the original Greek or Latin manuscripts always in front of you, it brings out a natural inquisitiveness and makes you wonder if you have the wherewithal to learn to read them in their original form.