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How Did Plato Convince Crito

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An argument analysis In this paper I will look into Plato’s dialogue Crito in which Crito, Socrates’ friend, is trying to convince Socrates to escape from the prison of Athens. Socrates manages to convince Crito with his argument that is constructed of four major premises that lead to the conclusion that Socrates should never escape. Three of those premises were clear and agreed upon by both Socrates and Crito. The fourth premise is constructed of two sub-arguments. In this paper I will explain the premises that they agreed upon as well as explicit Socrates’ two sub-arguments, which I shall call parental and contract arguments that he used to convince Crito with his major argument that reaches to a conclusion that he must not escape the prison of Athens. In addition to explaining Socrates’ premises, …show more content…

Meaning that the respect and the obedience that children give to their parents are similar to the respect and the obedience that citizens should give to the laws. This argument states that the laws brought Socrates to life by allowing his parents to get married. The laws nurtured and educated him. if the laws nurtured and educated him, then he must be the law’s offspring and servant. Socrates cares for virtue. If Socrates cares for virtue, then he is morally obligated to obey his parents and his master. Socrates is not in the same footing with his father nor his master. If Socrates is not in the same footing with his father nor his master, then of course he is not in the same footing of his country as it should be much more honored than his father or mother or even all of his ancestors (51b), therefore Socrates is morally obligated to obey the orders of his country no matter what. If Socrates disobeyed his country by escaping that would be considered as a wrongdoing, therefor escaping would be considered violation to the principle of

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In Crito, a play by Plato, Socrates and Crito deliberate about the justifications of breaking out of prison. Crito provides numerous evidences that should appeal to Socrates emotional side by bringing up his friends and family, however, Socrates maintains his composure. Instead he contributes a logical and concise argument to act justly by staying in prison and accepts his punishment for ‘corrupting the youth’, among other things. I believe that Socrates argument is most effective due to his content, which is filled with logic and reasoning to prove his premises, as well as his style; not filled with flare and insignificant common phrases. Socrates most effective strategy is his use of logos, he always uses rationale and logic to decide his next point or explain his most recent assertion.

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The laws are suppose to protect the society and its people, yet when the order of the government turns corrupt, then the validity of everything is at stake. As one can see, the corrupt laws placed Socrates in prison and he chose to abide by the impartial laws in order to be consistent and loyal to the

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In the reading, Crito came to Socrates requesting for him to escape prison. Crito presented some arguments as to why Socrates should leave while in return, Socrates presented counter arguments as to why he should stay. In the end, Socrates chose to stay in prison and go along with his death sentence. Socrates doing this was the correct choice because Crito failed to present a compelling argument to why he should leave (54-end). Socrates is already of old age, so why damage his reputation by escaping and living the little years he had left to suffer a lifetime of guilt, hatred, and throwing away a possibility for those left behind to witness the flaws in their governmental system.

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This he is unwilling to do because he holds it in such high regards and believes that if people did not follow the laws it would cause the fall of Athens. Therefor by him not accepting his punishment he would consider himself one of the highest criminals. This is yet another paradigm of how important the opinion of the majority is because they are the ones who create the laws. By following the laws you are really following the opinion of the majority. Here we see that perhaps Socrates was inconsistent in his reasoning as he places such a great weight on the majority opinion through law.

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Socrates states that if one does not agree with the contract that you tacitly agreed to that one must either try and persuade the state to change or follow the rules that they have. Socrates tried to sway the court on his ruling and failed, he now feels obligated to follow through with the ruling and accept the punishment that he was given. He also realizes that if he did not like the rules and regulations of Athens that he had the choice to leave and reside in another city. Socrates knows that since he has lived in Athens for many years and benefited from the goods and services of Athens he feels obligated to give Athens his

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In order to establish my thesis, I will start by stating and explaining the argument that Socrates presents, I will

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Socrates bases this view of justice on the worth of living a good life. “And is life worth living for us with that part of us corrupted by unjust actions” (47e) If we corrupt our soul with injustice, our life would not be worth living, therefore one must never commit an injustice. “When one has come to an agreement that is just with someone, one should fulfill it.”(49e) It is this agreement with the Laws that Socrates would be violating, if he were to

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It is impious to bring violence to bear against your mother or father; it is much more so to use it against your country.” What we say in reply, Crito, that the laws speak the truth, or not?” (TDS pg 51,52). By breaking the law, Socrates would be disobeying the laws as a citizen, like a child disobeying his parent. By escaping he would have been doing an impious act that would affect his standing with the gods.

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