Abstract

The translation of Apology 30b 2–4 has long been controversial. The standard translation of this sentence reveals a Socrates who wants to highlight a problem about virtue by making an extremely optimistic statement about it; the alternative translation supported by Myles Burnyeat and Christopher Rowe would suppress the problem by appearing to resolve it. A detailed examination of Socrates’ speech at 28b–31c, defending the nobility of his Delphic activity, finds fault with the resolution proposed by Burnyeat and Rowe, shows how Socrates’ speech is informed by his clear awareness of human hopes for virtue, highlights his clarity about his situation, and addresses the question of the character of the Socratic virtue or toughness that is the by-product of his activity.