Plato’s Apology (Defence) of Socrates is a masterpiece of ancient rhetoric which philosophically illustrates in practice and illuminates in principle Plato’s version of Socrates’ dialectical method. This edition aims not merely to present and combine valuable recent research but to develop it further. The editor is more sceptical than some recent writers of the historical accuracy of Plato’s version of Socrates’ defence, and offers an account of the Apology as a work of Plato’s own art.