Analysis Of The Book ' The ' Of ' Socrates '

By viewing the painting The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David, Socrates’ loyalty to the Athenian government was far more important to him than his own death or friendship. He was more interested in teaching his students about his belief in reason and the law of justice before he died. Still, the students and friends were arguing with him and trying to convince him to renounce his teachings. Socrates was strong in telling his students how it was for the good of society that he drinks the poison hemlock. He was not going to change what he was teaching all along when he truly believed in the democratic Athenian government laws. Socrates’ loyalty to the government was much stronger than the ties of friendship or acquaintances.

In life, people are guided by moral beliefs and principles. Whether their beliefs are good or bad, their decisions are based on them. In Plato “The Crito”, Socrates emphasizes his moral beliefs and principles when he decides not to escape from prison. Although Socrates had the opportunity to escape his death sentence, he chose not to do so because he had a moral obligation to commit a sacrifice.

In order to give a little hindsight, I will discuss the dialogues between Socrates and Crito in Plato’s “The Crito”; the scene beings with Crito waking up Socrates’ in his jail cell and questioning how he seemed so calm and peaceful when the time for his execution was approaching at a rapid pace. Socrates, as calm as ever, replies that he is willing to die if it is the will of God. Crito begins to try to convince Socrates to escape from his cell by using different reasoning’s. Crito explains that if he rejected the idea of escaping and was executed, he would lose a loving and loyal friend and he would have to live with the fault of failing to save his life. On a more ethical level, Crito present more compelling cases: firstly, if he had stayed, he would helping his enemies in wronging him unjustly, and would then be acting unjustly himself; and second, that he

In Plato’s Crito Socrates argues that it would be wrong for him to escape from prison. Speaking to his friend Cirto, Socrates explains that escaping from prison would go against many of his beliefs. Socrates believes in seeking the truth, not repaying a wrong with another wrong, and obeying the laws of the state. He also states that escaping from prison would ruin his reputation and is in best interest for everyone. Crito brings up many arguments to Socrates trying to convince him to escape. Crito tries to appeal to Socrates in many different ways and bombards him with many arguments. Every argument that Crito brings up to Socrates, he answers with carful thinking and analysis. Crito appeals to Socrates emotions by stating that his friends and family will be lost without him. He

Crito and agreement with two guards to help Socrates escape his execution and live in exile, but Socrates refuses to escape. Crito believes that he would be committing two evil he he let Socrates die; “For if you die I might have saved you if I bad been willing to give money, but that I did not care. Now, can there be a worse disgrace than this- that i should be taught to value money more than the life of a friend?” (44) One must value life over money and life over death. Crito continues to try and convince his friend that escaping is the right thing to do. Crito argues that if Socrates is to stay he would be committing an injustice for he is wrongfully sentenced. “Socrates in betraying your own life when you might be saved; this is playing into the hands of you enemies and destroyers; and moreover I should say that you were betraying your children for you might bring them up and educate them.” (45) One must value his family his friends and his children. As Crito stated Socrates choosing to not escape as is an act of him abandoning his wife and children and he should be ashamed. One must also value and obey the law of Athens, this would be one of Socrates arguments of why he would not escape his

On a more ethical level, Crito presents two reasons for why Socrates should escape prison. Crito thinks that it is not just for Socrates to give up his life when he can save it. If he stayed, he would be aiding his enemies in wronging him unjustly, and would thus be acting unjustly himself. Secondly, accepting death means that Socrates is showing no concerns for his family’s fate, and by escaping, he could live in exile and raise and educate his sons. Those reasons are what made Crito believe that Socrates should not give up his life and should escape and live in

     Also, Socrates refuses to allow the trite motive of retaliation dictate his behavior, since he believes that revenge is immoral. He goes on to ask Crito what good would a society be with laws if anyone could simply ignore them when the outcome does not suit them. Instead, he attests that logical argument and persuasion should be the defense of the accused. And, furthermore, since he is unable to convince those who ruled against him, he believes he has no alternative but to obey their sentence. Otherwise, although escape would be easy, it would only corrupt an already corrupt system further. In the end, Socrates manages to convince Crito that escape would not be right or just, and Crito agrees.

Socrates’ decision to disregard his friends and disciples help was justifiable. Although initially Crito’s argument is compelling, Socrates paints a far stronger picture of the moral rightness that Crito draws on for his argument. Crito attempts to sway Socrates by conjuring a sense of guilt within him. By saying “you are betraying your sons” and “I feel ashamed on your behalf” (Plato, Crito 45d-45e) Crito is trying to make Socrates virtuous side flare up. However, this approach pushes Socrates to make an argument that embodies the law as a person and thus allows Socrates to treat mans relationship with the law the same as with other men.

Despite the fact that Book I of the Republic is a monotonous and troublesome content to overcome, I gained some knowledge from perusing the content. What I got from perusing Book I generally speaking is that Plato's contention depends on capacity to demonstrate that equity is righteousness and makes the fair individual glad which makes equity significant. I additionally got from alternate endeavors of characterizing capacity as Cephalus contends that equity is reimbursing obligation and coming clean, yet Socrates' counterexample demonstrates that Cephalus' definition is fortuitous. Polemarchus contends that equity is doing admirably to companions who are great and doing damage to adversaries who are terrible, however Socrates highlights that companions can

Commonly the most widely renowned teachers in history often are remembered as the most intriguing teachers in history. Scholars often ask, what made their teaching style so different, or what was so unique about this educator? Perhaps the most investigated teachers of the world often left the smallest written mark on the world. No exception to this, is the philosopher, Socrates. Widely known as one of the greatest Athenian philosophers, he never wrote anything down, and is theorized as illiterate. The only record of this man lies in his student, Plato’s Dialogues, as well as references from other writers of the

Crito believes that Socrates is acting unjustly by staying in prison. Deciding to stay in prison, Socrates letting his enemies treat him the way they want to and by doing so

     “The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living.” This is the famous quote proclaimed by Socrates, a controversial philosopher of ancient Athens. He believed that anyone could lead a significant and meaningful existence by examining his or her own life and ideas very thoroughly. (Soccio)

Thoreau’s quote “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison,” is a statement that Socrates, as portrayed by Plato, would attest to. Socrates stands trial and possible death charges, but in his last defense against the jury he sought to enlighten them in an arguably impolite manner. Given multiple chances to lessen his sentence through apology and other means, Socrates would rather stand firmly and die for what he believes is just than be molded by a social combine and be silenced unjustly. Thoreau continues with “…but more free and honorable, ground, where the State places those who are not with her, but against her-…” Socrates starts his defense by fighting the beliefs of the oldest

29d). Unlike his fellows Athenians, Socrates cares little “whether a person is beautiful, or rich, or famous in any other way that most people admire” (Sym. 216e). Unwilling to compromise his own values, Socrates continues to challenge those around him, even at the risk of losing his own life. In Plato’s Crito, Socrates likens himself to Achilles who, insistent on avenging Patroclus’ death, “belittled death and danger, fearing much more to live as a bad man and not to avenge his friends” (Apo. 28c). Socrates holds little regard for his wellbeing when the threat of being unfaithful to his beliefs is at hand.

In the Crito, Socrates is nearing his appointed death and his friend Crito is attempting to convince him to escape. The guard has been payed off and Socrates only must walk out the door and flee Athens. Socrates quickly tells Crito that he cannot escape, because that would be breaking the laws of Athens. Socrates main reason to care about the laws of Athens is to keep a just soul, because breaking the laws would be unjust and acting unjustly would harm his soul. This is what Socrates truly cares about, whether he is harming his soul by being unjust or living just with his soul intact. He would rather die than to