...made in Crito by Socrates, Crito, and the Laws of Athens in order to determine which is the most successful. I will also provide my own objection to the some of the arguments to provide insight into possible errors in the given standpoints. In Crito, Socrates is being kept in jail in anticipation of his execution for crimes he did not commit. His friend Crito visits Socrates and explains he should take the chance to escape while it is still available. Crito’s primary argument is that Socrates will be dead in a few days if he does not escape, and living at all is better than being dead. The strongest reasoning against Socrates escaping is provided by Socrates with respect to the laws...
Words: 1040 - Pages: 5
...In Pluto’s Crito, Crito try’s to persuade Socrates to escape from jail to prevent them from killing him. However, Socrates provides a counter argument to his pleas. Crito presents seven different arguments for Socrates escape from prison. Crito argued that if Socrates does not escape, he would hurt Crito. First, Crito will loose Socrates friendship if he dies. If Socrates dies, people will think that Crito didn’t do anything to help Socrates therefore, the people will look down at Crito because they would be unaware that Socrates chose to stay in jail. They will think that Crito didn’t get him out of jail because he wasn’t willing to spend the money to do it. If this is the case, Crito’s reputation will suffer because everyone will think Crito cares more about the money that is spent for the escape rather than Socrates himself. In Crito’s second argument, he wonders why Socrates would rather stay than face the death penalty. Crito feels that if Socrates fears that his friends will be arrested if he escapes, but he should not have this fear. Socrates friends would risk everything by paying off guards or others that would tell on them, therefore, there won’t be any risk at all. Crito also explains that there are many places for Socrates to go, such as Thebes or Thessaly, where he would be protected. In Crito’s third argument, Crito tells Socrates that he has a responsibility to his sons. Crito goes on to say that Socrates has a responsibility to make sure his children...
Words: 888 - Pages: 4
...At the beginning of Crito, Athens has just condemned Socrates to death, and he is calmly sleeping in his cell when his friend Crito arrives. Crito informs Socrates that he and his friends have a plan to break Socrates out of prison and shuttle him to safety! Except strangely, Socrates wants no part in this daring plot. An argument ensues. Crito obviously cannot understand why Socrates would want to stay and die. Crito pleads with Socrates, telling him that he doesn't want to lose a friend, and that people will think he let Socrates down if they don't escape. Socrates quickly puts that argument down, saying that it's stupid to obey the whims of public opinion. But then Crito says that given Socrates’ current predicament, it would seem that a lack of public favor can be dangerous. Socrates jumps at this comment,...
Words: 690 - Pages: 3
...The Crito records the conversation that took place in the prison where Socrates was confined awaiting his execution. It is in the form of a dialog between Socrates and Crito, an elderly Athenian who for many years has been a devoted friend of Socrates and a firm believer in his ethical teachings. The conversation takes place at an early hour on what proved to be the next-to-the-last day that Socrates remained alive. Like both the Euthyphro and the Apology, this dialog reveals something of the character of Socrates by describing the manner in which he faced difficult circumstances without being overcome by them. In the Crito, particular attention is given to the reasons advanced by Socrates for refusing to escape from prison as a means of saving his own life. The circumstances were such that he might easily have done so, and his friends were urging him to do it....
Words: 531 - Pages: 3
...Crito The father of our country, Thomas Jefferson, once said “My reading of history convinces me that most bad government is the result of too much government.” (Government Involvement in the American Economy) Throughout the course of history we have seen the government drastically change and become more and more involved in the personal lives of the American public. In the story “Crito”, a dialogue written by Plato, he tells of the last days of Socrates. The issue arises as to what laws one should keep, and why. Socrates stands wrongly accused and facing a punishment of death while dear friend Crito tries desperately to convince Socrates to flee. There is every opportunity for Socrates to give in to Crito and save himself yet he will not; why? So many of us believe in free will, the ability to make our own choices without any outside limitations or constraints imposed upon us; however, I believe there is no such service as is depicted in the story of “Crito.” I have no doubt in my mind that if any of us knew we were wrongly accused, facing death, and were given the opportunity to live, we wouldn’t hesitate to take back our freedom. However, Socrates discusses with Crito all the reasons that he cannot abandon his punishment, and must sleep in the bed he made. These reasons will give rise to the argument that the decision he is making, to sacrifice himself, is not free from outside influence of any kind, therefore, his decision is not of his own free will. In paragraph 26...
Words: 1565 - Pages: 7
...One of the most well known philosophers even to this day is Socrates. Known as the wisest of the philosophers, Socrates made it a living to contradict or play “devil’s advocate” to anyone who claimed to have wisdom. Eventually, Socrates was sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning for “corrupting the youth.” Socrates then comes back with a famous line, “To fear death, gentlemen, is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know.” However, before Socrates was put to death, a young man by the name of Crito gave him the chance to escape and save himself. But Socrates refused to leave. In this paper I will be examining Socrates’s argument of why it would be unjust for him to leave Athens and escape...
Words: 1489 - Pages: 6
...Philosophy T-TH 11:00 The dialogue of the “Crito” is one of the last works done by Plato, a student of Socrates, about Socrates’ final time in jail before he faces his sentence of death from the city of Athens. Crito is trying to persuade Socrates on why he should escape the prison he was falsely put in. throughout all of his pleas for Socrates to escape; Socrates does not fulfill Crito’s wishes. Instead he has a discussion with Crito to see if his student can put together a fully logical argument as to why he should escape. Socrates’ love of arguments is what sparks the talk. He tells Crito that if he can manage to persuade him to escape during their argument that he would do so but, if he cannot sway Socrates away from his decision of staying that he cannot would not leave and face his sentence of death. Crito attempts to persuade Socrates by telling him that he was wrongly imprisoned and his sentence was not justified. When he tells him this he says that he therefore does not need be there and it is his duty to escape from that prison. Crito is aware that Socrates knows his sentence was not right but he could still not figure out why he would not escape. Socrates then tells Crito, “When one has come to an agreement that is just with someone, should one fulfill it?” Crito agrees without any hesitation, he then knows now even though the sentencing was wrong that Socrates would carry out his agreement with the court. Socrates is a citizen of Athens and will follow the law...
Words: 692 - Pages: 3
...In the dialogue “Crito by Plato” is a scene which takes place in the prison of Socrates. Socrates was sitting in the prison got so much of interval before his death and it wasn’t too bad for him, he was reading books making friends with the jailers. Crito come, and he has been coming if you look at the dialogue couple of time. Crito has been coming during each day, at a certain time of the day. He is showing up early this time because he got a breakout of jail plan for Socrates. Socrates could get away, Crito was a rich guy, a foreigner, bribe the guards and arrange for his escape. Crito performs as many proposals as he can to persuade Socrates to escape out of prison. Why is Crito doing all this? On a sensible perspective, I respect Socrates...
Words: 627 - Pages: 3
...The Crito and the Letter from Birmingham Jail exemplify the complex nature of the obligation of the citizen. Although both pieces discuss the obligation of the citizen and seem rather similar on paper, both are inherently different. The Crito takes a more literal approach while the letter from Birmingham jail takes a more figurative stance. The Crito is a dialogue that takes place in Socrates’ prison cell as he awaits his execution. Socrates was wrongfully accused for “failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges” and “introducing new deities”. The dialogue begins as Crito, one of socrates’ good friends, enters the jail cell to let Socrates know that he has devised a plan to smuggle him out of prison. Crito tries to reason in saying that Socrates’s death will reflect poorly amongst his friends and peers image, and that Socrates shouldn’t worry about the risk or financial burden that is put on to those who are helping him. Crito would then...
Words: 616 - Pages: 3
...Phil 100 Prof. Michael Rosenthal 22 April 2015 Paper 1 Topic 2 Socrates, accused of making the worse into the stronger argument, corrupting the young and not believing in the same Gods the city believes in (24b), was found guilty and sentenced to death. After being sentenced and awaiting his penalty, his friend, Crito, visited Socrates. While awaiting his death, Crito attempted to convince Socrates that he should flee from Athens and escape his death sentence. Why might Crito try to convince Socrates to break the law and escape from Athens? Crito explained to Socrates that if Socrates were to die, not only would Crito be deprived of a friend, but Crito’s reputation would be harmed as well. Crito believed that if he were to allow Socrates to die, people would think that Crito valued money more than his own friends (Socrates dying would indicate that Crito did not spend money in order to save him) (43d). Crito’s concern for his reputation and the thoughts of the majority prompted Socrates to raise a question, “why should we care so much for what the majority think?” (43d). Crito responded by saying it is important to show concern for the opinion of the majority, “…one must also pay attention to the opinion of the majority,” (44d). Crito believed that paying mind to the opinion of the majority is important because “…the majority can inflict not the least but pretty well the greatest evils if one is slandered among them,” (44d). In other words, the majority has the ability...
Words: 1549 - Pages: 7
...All his life Socrates was a man of subtle persuasion. He could do this by using the simplest metaphors to sway his colleagues, acting as a “torpedo fish”, leaving them stumped with a transformed state of mind. There are countless works that could be used to exemplify the seemingly general, logical intelligence that Socrates possesses, but I will only introduce a few. In the work of the Crito, which was written/reported by Plato whom was Socrates student, Socrates is in prison awaiting his death for speaking his mind and spreading his word to those who were interested in listening. He states the he does not follow popular opinion, but on the contrary does things in compliance as so to be true to himself. In the work of Meno, also written by...
Words: 1294 - Pages: 6
...In the Crito, Socrates makes some surprisingly strong claims about the moral authority of the state, which might even seem to be inconsistent both with another fundamental claim he makes in the Crito and with certain claims he makes in the Apology. I shall argue that although these claims seem to be in some tension with each other, the crucial claims about the authority of the state in the Crito can plausibly be interpreted in such a way as to remove any real inconsistency with the other claims. The first, rather striking claim about the moral authority of the state occurs at 51b of the Crito. Socrates argues that, because of the state's role as a provider of security, education, and various important social institutions (such as marriage), the citizens of the state are its "offspring and servants"; and from this he concludes that citizens are subordinate to the state and its laws to such an extent that if a citizen ever disagrees with the state's laws or orders, he "must either persuade it or obey its orders," even if the latter amounts to suffering death. The implication for his own case is clear: Socrates had tried to persuade the court of his innocence and of the injustice of his execution (as detailed in the Apology), but he had failed; therefore, he argues, he must now obey the court and accept his death sentence--even though he still thinks that he is in the right on this matter. The second, closely related claim, comes only a few paragraphs later, in 51e and 52. Socrates...
Words: 1569 - Pages: 7
...Acquittal: On a Supposed Contradiction in Plato’s Apology and Crito Ben Blanks, Lynchburg College (Editor’s note: This essay by Ben Blanks is the winner of the North Award for the best paper in the 2012 Agora. Ben presented an earlier version of this paper at the ACTC Student Conference at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, in March, 2011.) When reading the Apology and the Crito of Plato, one inevitably comes upon a seeming fundamental contradiction between the two dialogues. The Apology presents readers with a defiant Socrates who declares in his trial that, if acquitted on the condition that he never philosophize again, he would continue to practice philosophy in spite of the jury’s order to the contrary: . . . if you said to me in this regard: “Socrates, we do not believe Anytus now; we acquit you, but only on condition that you spend no more time on this investigation and do not practice philosophy, and if you are caught doing so you will die”; if, as I say, you were to acquit me on those terms, I would say to you: “Men of Athens, I am grateful and I am your friend, but I will obey the god rather than you, and as long as I draw breath and am able, I shall not cease to practice philosophy . . . (29c-d).1 The passage from the Apology seems to present a defiant argument for civil disobedience in the face of injustice. In the Crito, however, when given a chance to escape prison and his upcoming execution, Socrates reasons that such an action would be unjust because it...
Words: 1804 - Pages: 8
...Socrates Philosopher Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, Wikipedia “Personal background” Born: 469 BC, Athens, Greece Died:399 BC, Athens, Greece Full name: Socrates Nationality: Greek Era: Ancient philosophy Region: Western philosophy School: Classical Greek Main interests: Epistemology, ethics Notable idea: SocraticMethod, Socratic irony Influenced: Most subsequent Western philosophy; more specifically, Plato, Aristotle, Aristippus, Antisthenes Spouse:Xanthippe Children:Menexenus, Lamprocles, Sophroniscus Aristotle Philosopher Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great “Personal background” Born: 384 BC Stagira, Chalcidice Died: 322 BC (aged 61 or 62) Euboea Nationality: Greek Era: Ancient philosophy Region: Western philosophy School: Peripatetic schoolAristotelianism Main interests: Physics, Metaphysics, Poetry, Theatre, Music, Rhetoric, Politics, Government, Ethics, Biology, and Zoology Notable ideas: Golden mean, Aristotelian logic, syllogism, hexis, homomorphism, Aristotle's theory of soul Plato Philosopher Plato was a philosopher in Classical Greece. He was also a mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western...
Words: 3769 - Pages: 16
...When reading the Apology one gets a feel for disobeying the law when the law stands in between of what one believes and what the law states. In the Crito one gets the feel of ethical conduct, to obey the laws, and to endure the blows one has received and accept them regardless of the consequences. The only problem with this is that the sequel contradicts the prequel. In the Apology, Socrates threatens to disobey a court order to cease philosophizing, among other orders. In the Crito, Socrates obeys the orders of the state and doesn’t break out of prison even though he is facing an execution. One might say “did Socrates lose his edge, did he give up because he was condemned to death?” I say that he was caught in his own hypocritical contradiction. Although many people think Socrates never contradicted himself, both the Apology and the Crito clearly show he did. In the Apology, Socrates contradicts himself by emphasizing the significance of obeying the gods above anything else. In the Apology (29c-d) while defending himself, Socrates states "If you said to me in this regard: 'Socrates, we do not believe Anytus now; we acquit you, but only on the condition that you spend no more time on this investigation and do not practice philosophy, and if you are caught doing so you will die,' if, as I say, you were to acquit me on those terms, I would say to you: "Gentlemen of the jury, I am grateful and I am your friend, but I will obey the god rather than you, and as long as...
Words: 1050 - Pages: 5
