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Crito's Argumentative Essay

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A few days before Socrates’ execution, his friend Crito visits him in an attempt to persuade him to escape prison. He seemed to be plagued by the burden of strangers thinking that he valued his money more than the life of his friend, rather than the fact that Socrates refused his help. Socrates replies to Crito by asking him if they should care about the non-valuable popular opinions of the masses or the valuable opinions of a few good men? The excerpt from “Crito’s Dialogue” demonstrates Socrates telling Crito how he wished his claim that most people could do the greatest evil was true, because that would also mean, they could do the greatest good. He exclaims how much of a miracle this would be. However, in truth, neither would be possible …show more content…

Crito tries to convince him to flee by mentioning the sense of loneliness, the injustice he would cause on his children’s lives, the shame of cowardice his friends would bear and how he would be allowing his enemies to destroy him. Socrates and Crito continue to disagree when it comes to the dilemma of escaping or remaining in the prison cell. As the two friends continue to argue, Crito agrees that Socrates was right to preserve his ideal that only the opinions or some men should be regarded and not the opinions of most men. Socrates tells Crito that he will only be persuaded by what is just and reasonable. He chose to abide to the principles of Athens made by men whose opinions are valued and in retrospect he was also sentenced to death by men whose opinions are valued. So in a sense, it would be unjust of him to break his promise to abide by the laws of Athens. He wishes to make a choice that would not only allow him to honor his promise as a citizen of Athens but also his duty towards his friends and family. This is supported by the following quote ”In questions of just and unjust, fair and foul, good and evil, which are the subjects of our present consultation, ought we to follow the opinion of the many and to fear them; or the opinion of the one man who has

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However, instead of planning the escape Socrates started the dialog about why he would rather obey the law and be executed. At first, Crito presented two arguments to

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His impiety is based off his questioning and disbelieving the traditional gods, and his corrupting and teaching the youth to do the same. Crito arrives at the prison after having arranged a potential escape opportunity for Socrates, and they proceed to debate whether it would be just for Socrates to escape. Socrates argues that while the

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Crito was afraid because his friend Socrates was willing to be executed; Crito made haste to explain that he can and must help Socrates to escape. All it would take is a few appropriate bribes to the guards and anyone who was willing to provide meaningful information, which would not be at all difficult to take care of. Crito further explains that if Socrates does not escape, no one would believe that he had willingly faced execution. Instead, Crito would be accused of not helping Socrates, He would rather be accused of being materialistic. Socrates suggests that one should only be cautious of the opinions of sensible people who will see things exactly as they turned out.

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Position Paper #1: For Socrates’ Argument of Tacit Agreement In The Crito Socrates uses two metaphors to justify his reason for staying in jail and dying instead of leaving Athens and starting a new life in another town. The metaphor he uses that most justifies his reasoning is the argument of tacit agreement, that he agreed to the laws and regulation of Athens when he decided to live there. Socrates knew that living in he agreed to follow all rules that the city had.

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Crito is distressed by Socrates reasoning and wishes to convince him to escape since Crito and friends can provide the ransom that the jury demands. If not for himself, Socrates should escape for the sake of his friends, sons, and those who benefit from his teaching according to Crito. However, Socrates denies the plan of escape. The three arguments to be acknowledged are as follows: the selfish, the practicality, and the moral. Socrates reason not to escape, Socrates explanation of the good life, and an objection for breaking the laws that would put no harm to his fellow citizens is

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Crito was very persistent on convincing Socrates to escape his death by bring up many arguments. The first argument Crito had brought up was that he did not want to lose Socrates because he is a “one of kind” friend to him plus he implied his reputation will be tarnished due to not helping his special friend. Crito is worried that many people in society will look at him wrong for not helping Socrates during this difficult time. Crito second argument was basically advising Socrates that he should not be too harsh on himself for what he claimed in the court house regarding him not wanting to be an exile. Socrates’s Children were brought up in the third argument.

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Crito accepts his arguments and Socrates decides he is going to

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With the Apology, and the Crito, Socrates comes to delve into his many teachings and finds himself put to death with the words of wisdom that have been passed down generation after generation. Socrates for many in this present day is a man of many words and great teachings, but anyone but Socrates thought differently, in Athens people thought of him as an annoyance rather than an integral part of society. As Socrates stood in front of the counsel of judges, he stood for what he thought was right and never changed opinion of himself or of his words. That’s why Socrates is still talked about in classrooms everywhere today.

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Crito and others have the money to bribe the informers and wants Socrates to let go of his fears if he has any because it is well worth the risk. (Crito,45a.) Crito believes he will be welcome in cities such as Thessaly where he has friends that

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In conclusion, therefore I should stay in jail and accept the death penalty. 3. Agreement argument – if I escape, then I will break an agreement I made with this city, to break an agreement is an unjust action, doing unjust actions harms the soul, and it is better to die than to live with a ruined soul. In conclusion, Socrates should stay in jail and accept the death penalty. In conclusion Crito's arguments are very narrow.

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To be just or to be served an injustice and obey, this is the very basis of the philosophical dialogue between Socrates and Crito. The Crito begins as one of Socrates’ wealthy friends, Crito, offers Socrates a path to freedom—to escape from Athens. Through the ensuing dialogue, Socrates examines, as a man who is bound by principles of justice, whether an unjust verdict should be responded to with injustice. In the dialogue between Socrates and Crito, Socrates outlines his main arguments and principles that prevent him from escaping under such circumstances. Socrates is under guard when Crito visits him, thus the plan to escape.

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Brody Denno Mr. Whittaker English II 28 February 2023 Persuasive/Argumentative Essay Revision As stated by Arthur Miller in his book, The Crucible, from his character John Proctor, “There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house, but no one has ever seen it.” (Act III, Page 1094). This quote may not be so specific to Act III, but can relate to many things in history, including The Red Scare in the mid-20th Century, The Holocaust also in the mid-20th Century, and the Iraq War in the early 21st Century. When all of these events in history relate to the same topic of The Crucible, these could really show how history can repeat itself time and time again. First of all, The Red Scare can be compared to the Salem witch trials because

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Socrates is one of a kind, and Crito does not want to lose him. Crito 's next argument is what people will think. Crito was worried that people would think that he did not care for Socrates if he did not break him out of jail. Crito did not want to be seen as someone who valued wealth more than valuing the opportunity to bribe the jailer and save Socrates. The most interesting argument is that Crito tells Socrates that it is morally wrong for him to stay and allow himself to be executed.

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1595 Words | 7 Pages

He is given the opportunity to choose an escape, and live his life never being able to return back to Athens. He completely opposes the idea and decides to live out the consequences of his trial, ultimately dying. Socrates made it his mission to live a virtuous life, which he did, right to his death. To life a virtuous life it would have gone against his own belief if he did escape his conviction, making this aspect very important in his philosophy. “To do so is right, and one must not give way or retreat or leave one’s post, but both in war and in courts and everywhere else, one must obey the commands of one’s city and country, or persuade as the nature of justice.

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In Apology, Socrates faces possible execution as he stands trial in front of his fellow Athenian men. This jury of men must decide whether Socrates has acted impiously against the gods and if he has corrupted the youth of Athens. Socrates claims in his defense that he wants to live a private life, away from public affairs and teachings in Athens. He instead wants to focus on self-examination and learning truths from those in Athens through inquiry. Socrates argues that "a [man] who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if [he] is to survive for even a short time" (32a).

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