Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state inventing new deities and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates' speech however is by no means an "apology" in our modern understanding of the word. The name of the dialogue derives from the Greek "apologia" which translates as a defense or a speech made in defense. Thus in The Apology Socrates attempts to defend himself and his conduct--certainly not to apologize for it.-SparkNotes