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Comparing Pericles Funeral Oration And Plato's Crito

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Pericles’ Funeral Oration and Plato’s Crito provide contrasting perspectives on citizenship and the obligations of citizens in democracy. In the Funeral Oration, I think that the obligations of citizens in a democracy are portrayed as both an honor and a duty, deeply intertwined with the collective greatness of the state. Pericles emphasizes the importance of active participation in public life and the self-sacrificial nature of citizenship. In addition, he asserts that Athenians are exceptional since they engage in civic duties with a sense of freedom and respect for both written and unwritten laws. This is evident in the quote, “We alone do good to our neighbors not upon a calculation of interest, but in the confidence of freedom and in a …show more content…

On the other hand, I believe that Plato’s Crito presents a more philosophical view of citizenship and the obligations of individuals within the state. Socrates, in his dialogue with Crito, argues that a citizen’s primary obligation is to obey the laws of the state, even when they are unjust, stating, “One must obey the commands of one’s city and country, or persuade it as to the nature of justice.” Personally, I feel that this reflects a belief in the importance of individual ethics and the rule of law, even in a democracy where the majority may not always act justly. I think that it is really intriguing how he also challenges the notion of blindly obeying laws and highlights the importance of moral integrity over mere

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