Oedipus The King Facts

Judgement: Falsities Without Fact In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Kreon attempts to reason with Oedipus by stating, “you can not judge unless you know the facts” (2.32). Kreon’s statement implies that people can not judge unless they know all the facts. Within the present paper, the term “judge” implies the formation of a conclusion by means of critical assessment (“judgement, n.”). Evidence from the play partly supports the claim that people can not judge unless they know all the facts. The first piece of evidence occurs near the start of the play when Oedipus states: As for the criminal, I pray to God -
Whether, it be a lurking thief, or one of a number - I pray that the man’s life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. (Sophocles,

22-3). The quote demonstrates Oedipus’ judgement on Kreon wanting to murder Oedipus to become the king. Oedipus states that Teiresias would not make such wild claims if Kreon had not advised him to. Oedipus’ judgement is a non sequitur - his judgement does not logically connect to the sole fact in his argument (“non sequitur, n.”). Kreon then begins to correct Oedipus in his thinking. Kreon does what Oedipus failed to do - provide ample facts to support his argument. Kreon states that he has no desire for the crown because he has all its authority, yet none of its responsibility. Next, he tells Oedipus to confirm the words Kreon quoted with the Princess of Delphi. Lastly, Kreon states that if he misquoted the princess, that he would be the first to cast his vote for his own death sentence (Sophocles, 2.87-93). In this situation, Kreon and Oedipus depict two contrasting judgements. Kreon’s judgement is informed and well assessed. He states all the relevant facts and forms a logical conclusion. Conversely, Oedipus’ makes his false judgement with irrelevant information and comes to an illogical conclusion. Oedipus makes this false judgement by not knowing all the facts, and is then corrected by Kreon’s well-informed judgement. Kreon’s informed judgement disproving Oedipus’ unaware judgement demonstrates the claim that people can not judge unless they know all the