Recently, I read Plato's "Apology" which portrays the trial of Socrates before the "oligarchy of 30". Since I think of an "apology" as "asking pardon" or "expressing regret" (The American Heritage Dictionary, 1996), I was unsure as to why Plato titled it "Apology". However, I find that apology also means a formal justification or defense. For example, "The consequence of those measures will be the best apology for my conduct" --Daniel Defoe.

Do you ever use "apology" to mean an explanation or justification?

At the end of the first part of his speech to athenians, before to answer to MELITUS, he said :

"Here is, against my first accusers, a sufficient "apologie (french)" ; ..." (literaly from a french version of the greek).

In french, we translate "apologie" in english by "eulogy" or "defence". Here in this phrase, according to the context (which is those of his own defence against Anytus and Lycon's calumnies), it seems that "defence" is the right translation, as you propose.

About philosophy etymology, it is commonly said that "sophia" is the "wisdom". I'm not very satisfied of that common ... short cut. I prefer
"love of clear-sightedness" refering to the greek "saphes" or "safis". What is your opinion ?

Safi

What puzzles me is how the concept of contrition entered the meaning. Clearly, apology did not have that sense in Greek, or in classical Latin, so did it change with Aquinas, or some other Christian philosopher, perhaps?

An excellent (as always) article on the change of meaning of apology is at http://www.worldwidewords.org/topicalwords/tw-apo1.htm

Arnie, that is a great site, and it provides a good explanation of the evolution of "apology". In the United States, we only use the definition for "apology" to mean an expression of regret or sorrow. Is that the case in England?

Safi, if the French translate "apologie" to mean "defense" in English, that is not the common definition for it, though I suspect people would understand what is meant. However, "eulogy" is commonly used at funerals--"high praise or a commendatory formal statement". I don't think that translation would be understood. Board, what do you think???

As for your question about philosophy, Safi, I concur with the meaning of "love of clear sightedness". I believe learning philosophy provides one with the ability to think critically on his/her own rather than to provide one with wisdom. Thanks, all, for the interesting insights!

Nowadays an apology in both British and American English conveys the idea of contrition; I doubt that anyone would use the word nowadays in its original meaning of justification for actions.

I doubt that anyone would use the word nowadays in its original meaning
of justification for actions.
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Yet we would use a form of it, that is, an apologist, in the original sense. "He is an apologist for the original definition of the word," for example.

Yes, I believe you are right, Asa. We use apology for contrition--but apologist seems to still retain the original meaning of the word.

Reviving a very old thread....

We discussed "apology" from Plato's time a long time ago, and I was reminded of this discussion today by this quote in the Chicago Tribune: "And Bush obviously seems of the view that apologia is preferable to apology." The word "apology," as noted above, in AHD has come to mean "expressing regret" or "asking pardon," at least in the U.S. I know of no one who uses it to mean "a formal justification." However, "apologia," according to dictionary.com means just that. Maybe "apologia" is the word now for the earlier "apology."

By the way, since reading Plato, I have found the term "oligarchy" very useful in referring to some of these bulletin boards that are controlled by oldtimers.

Yes. The link I gave to World Wide Words back when this was first mentioned talks about the re-borrowing of apologia in the eighteenth century to mean "justification".

Reviving this thread again
There was a good article in the Wall Street Journal about apologies and the difference between men and women. I really liked their discussion of "fraudulent" apologies. I have to admit that I make those from time to time.

Once again reviving this thread
Some of you may remember Safi, a Frenchman, who was here at the very beginning of Wordcraft. He was a bit weird at times, but I do miss him.

Anyway, there was an article today, similar to the above WSJ article, about "fraudulent" apologies. This statement is so true:

quote:

Those who enlist the non-apology apology usually regret the ways others have misunderstood them, rather than regretting what they've said. Take Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who observed during the campaign that "even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, it is something that God intended to happen." After an uproar, he clarified: "I spoke from my heart. For speaking from my heart, for speaking from the deepest level of my faith, I cannot apologize. If people came away with the wrong meaning — for that I apologize."

They talk about 3 essentials to an apology: 1) Timely; 2) Recognizes the harm done to another; and 3) Doesn't attempt to explain it away.

Reviving a very old thread
Only a few of you will remember Safi, a Frenchman, who posted on this site for awhile. You can see one of his posts here. Anyway - I thought these were some interesting apologies.