Socrates Constructs In The Crito

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.

Crito argues that Socrates should escape jail, and relies on the premises that he must consider the opinion of the public and that Socrates is betraying his children. Crito believes that Socrates is being foolish by remaining in jail and not escaping when given the opportunity. To support this argument, Crito presents two premises. The first of which claims that Socrates

In the Crito, Socrates believes that breaking the laws of the city harms all of society. The consequences of escaping the city outweigh the benefits for it puts his family, his friends, and himself in danger. He believes in a personal morality that one must live a good and just life, and not just any life. If Socrates breaks the law then he would not be acting justly,

In the Crito, Socrates is approached by his life-long friend Crito while in prison awaiting execution. Crito used many different ways to attempt to persuade Socrates to escape. The best argument Crito uses is that he says Socrates would be betraying his children if he were to stay in prison. He says that Socrates should bring them up and educate them, not leave them. Socrates, contrary to what Crito says, feels that he has an implied contract with the State. He believes that his family staying in Athens and raising him there was the greatest compliment they could have given him, so he feels that he owes it to the State to accept its laws and to remain a willing partner to the State. Socrates’ feelings were summed up on page 64 when he says:

In the Crito, Socrates is charged with corrupting the youth by broadcasting these stinging questions that forced people to think. Athens, which at this time recently lost in battle, was seeking to eliminate anyone who they perceived as unfavorable by their gods in order to win back the compassion of their divine beings. Therefore, Socrates was put on trial for his impiety and was sentenced to a choice of exile or death. Refusing to be shamefully removed from his home state, Socrates selects death over exile and awaits death by hemlock. A bit of time after Socrates’ sentencing, Crito, his confidant, informs him that his death is near and attempts to convince him to escape. Crito tells

Each one of us has been accused of some kind of act at some point in our lives. Yet those accusations have been terribly mistaken and sometimes there is so little that a person can do to fix that. In this case we are talking about the wonderful philosophist Socrates, a person of many beliefs and ideas. He was a man who dearly believed in justice and doing justice to others. We will examine Socrates' way of thinking and his rationality towards a healthy and logical mind. After reading the Meno, Apology, and Crito I have come to a conclusion that Socrates made the right decision by rejecting Crito's offer of escape and the reasoning behind that will be explained by providing parts of the dialogues and the ideas

The dialogue in Plato’s Crito takes place when Crito visits Socrates a few days before his planned execution; upon arriving at his cell, Crito discusses his friends’ willingness to pay bail and the disadvantages of staying in prison, including leaving his sons with no father and inflicting a bad image on his friends. In response to Crito, Socrates explains his reasoning for staying in prison, including the laws of the land, while arguing it would not be just and would lead to further issues. Socrates ultimately convinces Crito that execution is the best, since it is on god’s path.

Crito is the play about the actual character Crito offering Socrates a second opportunity to living; he, however, rejects his proposal for a few reasons which he concluded were just according to the state. Introduce quote “For I am still what I always have been, a man who will listen to no voice but the voice of the reasoning which on consideration I find to be the truest…” (Crito 104) the truest being the laws of Athens. Socrates’ relationship with the political system of Athens is a critical component to his philosophy. The idea that Justice is unified and if just one law was disobeyed [than there would be no govern city] awkward. This is why the idea of escaping would ultimately lead to serious consequences; if this man, who supports the idea of Justice, was to escape from prison then the reality of the city would collapse. According to Socrates, by putting himself above the legal system, he would cause more harm to the city rather than improving it. In order to not contradict himself or the virtues of the Greeks, he accepted his penalty instead of escaping. Moreover, throughout the play Socrates is seen as a criticizing villain, but this is not the case; the philosopher actually praises the laws and only wishes to prove a point to the public. In sum, Socrates believes his conviction was unjustly decreed but does not escape due to the respect he upholds for the laws of Athens. Good points, but elaborate on Socrates’ relationship

Socrates’ adherence to the law causes him to refuse Crito’s offer to help him out of prison. As a citizen of Athens, the duty to oblige with the contractual agreement is a must. Contractual relationship has been established between Socrates and the state as he has benefited all the goods such as education and protection of the laws however when failure to comply, consequences such as execution must be faced. For Socrates, escaping is an unjust act and for which if he did act upon it, would lead to more consequences. For instance, Crito would be involved in an unjust act and in acceptance to his punishment, he made sure to explain why he must remain in prison. One argument made is that if he did escape then the system would be destroyed. A destroyed

Crito gives many strong arguments including the need for Socrates to deny his enemies’ injustice and the importance of Socrates living a longer life and influencing more people. Nevertheless, Socrates counters all of Crito’s arguments As Socrates feels that he has lived a long, decent life, he believes that a life in exile and his violation of the social contract of Athenians is not a meaningful option. Breaking the law, even to save his own life, would kill the meaning of his commitment to right principles. Initially, when Crito comes to Socrates’ prison he brings up a few different reasons as to why Socrates should escape from prison.

In “Crito” by Plato, Socrates faces a difficult dilemma. Socrates has been wrongfully charged of impiety and corrupting the children and is approached with an offer from his close friend Crito who says he will help Socrates escape and give him a nice place to live away from Athens where he can flee from a wrongful execution.

Crito mentions how he can bribe the guard and allow Socrates to escape, but Socrates refuses. This demonstrates how Crito is being selfish and only trying to fend for himself.

A Summary of Plato’s Dialogue: Socrates prosperous friend Crito, believed that it was in Socrates best interest to flee prison. Crito presented many valid arguments during his visit to the prison in order to persuade Socrates to escape before it was too late. Crito believed that the authority’s judgment was unjust and that Socrates would be betraying his friends and family by staying in prison. Crito believed that Socrates death would be harmful towards his friend’s reputation because people would think Crito did nothing to save him. Crito also argued that Socrates should not have to worry about the cost of escaping but rather think of the life he could have in exile where he could continue to raise his family. However, Socrates found verification to

Crito is confused about the nature of the good and his friendship with Socrates has blinded and lead him to ignorance by going against the law and undermining the social order. Although Crito regards Socrates is good and has been dealt with unjustly, the arguments he proposes do not stand. Most people are blind to the purpose of law and the necessity of the rule of law to preserve social order. They privilege loyalty to kin over respect for law which leads to greater instability. “And now you have forgotten these fine sentiments, and pay no respect to us, the laws, of whom you are the destroyer; and are doing what only a miserable slave would do, running away and turning your back upon the compacts and agreements which made you a

The first of many arguments that are presented in the conversation in the Crito is the subject of Socrates escaping from jail. If he were to escape it would be considered an unjust act, because he had been put in jail by the law, and the laws are meant to be taken as just. To do an unjust act for Socrates would ruin his soul, and for Socrates, life is not worth living with a ruined soul. For Socrates, the most important thing in