The general term apology, in context to literature, defends a world from attack (opposite of satire-which attacks the world). The Apology, which depicts the death of Socrates, is among the four Plato dialogues to detail the philosopher's final days, along with Euthyphro, Phaedo, and Crito.

The Apology is Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates as he defended himself in 399 BC against the charges of "corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel". "Apology" here has its earlier meaning (now usually expressed by the word "apologia") of speaking in defense of a cause or of one's beliefs or actions).

Plato (428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC) was a philosopher and mathematician in Classical Greece, and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He is widely considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy, especially the Western tradition. Unlike nearly all of his philosophical contemporaries, Plato's entire oeuvre is believed to have survived intact for over 2400 years, and he is arguably one of the greatest writers, if not the greatest writer, in the entire Western canon.