NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
Socrates
Adnan Alghamdi
5/14/2015
Plato’s Apology was simply his version of Socrates’ speech during his defense against the charges leveled against him. Those charges related to the failure to observe the beliefs, which existed at that time. In the Crito, in which Socrates conversed with Crito, who was a wealthy individual, Socrates holds that it is wrong to punish an injustice, with another form of injustice. In fact, he even turns down the offer by Crito to assist him to escape from the prison confines for the charges that he was facing. As the dialogue takes place in a prison cell, it is evident that a criminal offence has been committed, and that the justice system is effective in as far as serving justice to offenders is concerned. In spite of Crito offering to assist Socrates to escape from prison, he declines the offer, and instead educates his wealthy friend on the need to have respect for the justice system.
The type of punishment, which was expected to be served to Socrates was death by execution, and his friends such as Crito would naturally mourn his departure, and blame themselves for
…show more content…
Some people would argue that it is necessary to pursue good life at the expense of your own life because of the expected lack of peace of mind, which would be equal to death in the event that they would give false accounts of events, in the hope of escaping punishment as expected by law. It is natural for modest people to offer their apologies for the wrongs committed. However, when most of us set out to seek forgiveness, we do so in the hope that the repercussions of our actions will be lessened. In Socrates’ case, it was expected that after seeking forgiveness, the jury would lessen his sentence, and perhaps send him to prison without the need to execute
In the Dialogue Crito, Socrates employs his Elenchus to examine the notion of justice and one’s obligation to justice. In the setting of the dialogue, Socrates has been condemned to die, and Crito comes with both the hopes and the means for Socrates to escape from prison. When Socrates insists that they should examine whether he should escape or not, the central question turns into whether if it is unjust to disobey laws. Socrates’ ultimate answer is that it is unjust; he makes his argument by first showing that it’s wrong to revenge injustice, then arguing that he has made an agreement with the city’s law for its benefits, and finally reasoning that he
The dialogue is set in the prison cell of Socrates, where he calmly waits for his execution. Before dawn, he is visited by Crito, an old and loyal friend of his. There, Crito lets him know that he has bribed the guards and made arrangements to smuggle Socrates out of prison and into safety. However, Socrates seems rather unmoved, and insists that he must stay in anticipation for his own execution. Crito presents an onslaught of arguments as to why Socrates must escape.1 Then Socrates rebuttals2, refusing Crito’s pleas from him to save himself and escape the prison. Next, Socrates brings in the voice of the Law of Athens, citing that it speaks to him, saying that it would be unjust for him to leave his cell. Since the laws exist as one collective
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.
Socrates has presented a period of questions and answers through dialogue with Crito to examine if he going into exile will damage his reputation. Socrates questions and answers with Crito establishes that a person must decide whether the society he or she lives has a just reasoning behind it's own standards of right and wrong and that a person must have pride in the life that he or she leads. By confirming these two concepts through questions, Socrates attempted to prove to his companion Crito, that the choice that he has made is just: "I am the kind of man who listens only to the argument that on reflection seems best to me. I cannot, now that this fate has come upon me, discard the arguments I used;
Socrates motives for not escaping could also be understood by his principles. His principle says, “And a good life is equivalent to a just and honorable one.”(1). Socrates believes and lives by doing well to himself and other people. Even though staying in prison would cause him physical damage, he is willing to sacrifice his body in order to save his soul. Because of his belief in living an honorable life, Socrates reasons to stay in prison rather than escaping.
punished under the law for his crimes. During Socrates’ trail he is given a chance to explain himself
Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with not believing in the gods and corrupting the youth. In Crito, the dialogue takes place in Socrates' prison cell, where he awaits execution. He is visited by dawn by his old friend Crito, who has planned for Socrates to escape prison.
Socrates says “One should never do wrong in return, nor do any man harm, no matter what he may have done to you.” (PG 50, 49c) Not many people have the courage to do what Socrates did, but since he believed the state was superior he did. For those who would have escaped, they believe they themselves are superior to the state. Socrates wishes to die being the man that others look up to and respect. If he were to have escaped, the people of Athens wouldn’t view Socrates the
Socrates suggested that if he were to get what he deserved, he should be honored with a great meal for being of such service to the state. He rejected the sentences of prison or exile, offering instead to pay a fine. When the jury rejected his suggestions and sentenced him to death, Socrates accepted the verdict and said that no one but the gods know what happens after death and so it would be foolish to fear what one does not know. He also warned the people who voted against him that by silencing him rather than listening to him, they have harmed themselves much more than they have harmed him.
Socrates was a one of the first philosophers and teachers known to Western philosophy. He lived in Athens Greece from 470 – 399 B.C. and is studied to this day because of his insights and understanding of the way people should live. Towards the end of his life, Socrates was accused of a myriad of crimes including criminal meddling and the corruption of the minds of the young. Eventually, Socrates was found guilty of his crimes and shortly after he was condemned to death. During the time of his incarceration, he was visited by a friend known as Crito to discuss the matter of his death in addition to the proposal of escape from prison. Crito initially believed that it would be in Socrates best interest to escape prison and live in exile
Although the Platonic dialogue chronicling Socrates' death is called the Apology, many critics have noted that Socrates seems notably unapologetic throughout the speech, thus raising the ire of his Athenian listeners. Socrates is openly confrontational in his address to an Athenian jury of his peers, and his philosophical elitism seems designed to confirm, rather than disprove the image the prosecution had created of an unstable, dangerous, and impious man intent upon corrupting the young. The only reasonable conclusion which can be drawn is that, rather than trying to defend himself against the charges, Socrates was committing a kind of state-sanctioned suicide. His refusal to flee Athens after he received a death sentence lends credence to this charge.
Socrates spent his time questioning people about things like virtue, justice, piety and truth. The people Socrates questioned are the people that condemned him to death. Socrates was sentenced to death because people did not like him and they wanted to shut him up for good. There was not any real evidence against Socrates to prove the accusations against him. Socrates was condemned for three major reasons: he told important people exactly what he thought of them, he questioned ideas that had long been the norm, the youth copied his style of questioning for fun, making Athenians think Socrates was teaching the youth to be rebellious. But these reasons were not the charges against him, he was charged with being an atheist and
According to the majority of the jury members of Athens, Socrates is a corruption to the youth, doer of evil and does not agree with the gods of his people. In the Apology, written by Plato these are the assumptions and accusations Socrates is held in court for. In court, he is faced with what most men fear, being wrongly accused leading to the death sentence. Socrates argues and strives to prove that he has no fear of being hated, being accused of serious crimes, being threatened with punishment, or being put to death.
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
Socrates was seventy (70) years old, and he was a righteous man with years of practicing good moral character, conduct, and wisdom. When Crito proposed an escape plan to smuggle Socrates out of jail to exile in a distance land, he refused to leave jail. Socrates desired to remain incarcerated behind the prison bars because of his morals and values would not allow him to rationalize his breakaway into freedom. Socrates and Crito discussed Socrates’ condiment to death or that he should seek freedom (escape) and survival, which it would furnish him with the ability to care for his family and children. The two (2) of them put together some concrete or sound dialogues (or arguments) during the early morning: Crito supported (or put forth) encouraging Socrates’ freedom and escape, and Socrates wanted (or argued) why he should remain behind the prison bars, which he desired (or demanded) the death penalty in a few more