In ancient Greek, the word "apology" is an excuse and nothing more. When this term began to be applied in ancient Greek law, it began to mean a defensive speech delivered in court. Later, everything that could serve as a defense against the prosecution and attacks, a letter or some text, was called apologia.
Metamorphoses of the term
Obviously, lawyers were zealous in praising the dignity of their client, and nowadays this term is used to mean prejudiced defense or excessive praise. Over time, the word "apology" generally lost its original meaning and acquired such synonyms as exaltation, praise and even hallelujah, and simply dense flattery. Unfortunately, we have to admit that such a biased defense has always taken place: from time immemorial to the present day.
Self-defense of Socrates
History knows the use of this term in the original sense - as an excuse. In this case, apology is the three famous speeches of Socrates made by him in 399 BC at a court in which he was accused of all mortal sins, the result of which was a death sentence. Socrates, who is considered the first philosopher, was a premature person. Most of the so-called scholars of Ancient Greece did not understand him and, realizing his superiority, they hated him. The calm ironic manner of communication infuriated them. He was accused of godlessness and corruption of his views of youth. And also in exorbitant pride and boast of erudition. Although it is Socrates who owns the famous phrase that he knows only that he knows nothing. And this phrase is not falsely derogatory. It is a statement of the fact that the world of knowledge is infinite and it is beyond the power of a man, even a sage, to grasp it.
Annoying Dignity
At the trial, the great philosopher did not ask for forgiveness, he behaved proudly, calmly and refuted all charges that were insignificant, unfounded and ridiculous. Not having the strength to adequately polemicize with Socrates, they decided to physically destroy him. He died in prison from poison. There remained a brilliant series of students and followers, including the legendary Plato. “Apology” is one of his earliest works, and it was not written in the form of dialogue. He was 30 years younger than the teacher and worshiped him. A passionate revealing work in which Plato calls a spade a spade, proves the complete insignificance, mediocrity and incompetence of the accusers - Miletus, Anita, Lycon.
Worthy disciple's rebuke
The correct name of the text written by Plato shortly after the trial (396 BC) is called "Apology of Socrates." Briefly, he can be described as a desire to acquit the innocent and protect the great teacher from false charges against him. He parses point by point the speeches made at the trial by Socrates, agreeing on what the great philosopher did not say . This is the first surviving text of Plato. It can be noted that none of the accusatory speeches was preserved, but it is clear from the documents of the witnesses of the process that not a single fact worthy of attention was given and all the attacks were unfounded or falsified.
Whole science
But there are other meanings of the word. It was widely used in religion, in particular in the protection of Christianity. It is known that this faith was asserted heavily and its accession required many victims and many defenders from attacks of enemies. In this vein, apology is the defense of the Christian faith. This could be called any work that justifies faith in Christ. But in a narrow sense, the apology is called the texts of early Christianity (II-III century). As a result of the struggle, a whole science appeared, connected with the defense of this faith, and it is called apologetics. Naturally, ardent defenders are called apologists. Later, this term began to be applied to people who are overzealous in protecting something. There were plenty of enemies of Christianity at the time of its formation - the Roman authorities, Jews, defenders of the ancient religion and philosophy, and the defense of the emerging faith was carried out in these areas. In these years, the struggle was carried out using political treatises. Therefore, the ancient apology is journalism.
The work of the French historian
Stories are known and other works under this name. For example, the “Apology of History” by Mark Blok (1886-1944), a French historian, one of the founders of the famous magazine “Annals” and the school of the same name, in which he sets out his views on history as a science and develops new approaches to its study. In his work “The Apology of History, or the Craft of a Historian,” published in 1986, the author examines man over time, explaining the fact that human consciousness changes from century to century under the influence of many factors, that is, a look at the same historical event changes over time, and this fact must be taken into account by the historian. He concludes as follows: knowledge of the past should make life better for future generations.
Unexpected use
In the most unexpected places you can find the term "apology". "Allods" - the famous role-playing game, which is an RPG (passing game) with elements of strategy. Allods is a fictional universe with its own story. The storyline is this: once a single Universe was destroyed by a crashing comet and the prosperous Sarnaut fell apart into separate pieces (The Great Cataclysm). Astral absorbs these worlds. The essence of Allods is to preserve the survivor. All allods are interconnected by portals. The game from the moment of creation is constantly supplemented by new episodes. So, not so long ago, the Apologia Guild was developed on a Russian server. Allods is a domestic product created by Nival, which arose two years before Google. Nival (a domestic developer of computer games) based on the vast world of Allods produced such games as Lost in the Astral, Cursed Lands and Legends of Allods.