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Plato Socrates Ratio

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In Critio by Plato Socrates believes that escaping his impeding death is not the right decision, he has several convincing points as to why he should accept his punishment and die. Socrates tells Crito, “So examine again whether or not it still holds true for you, that it's not living that should be our priority, but living well. (48b)” This statement is very important in proving why Socrates does not wish to escape, he does not simply want to live he wants to be able to philosophize and think as he could before. If escaping would mean he would have to change his way of life, which it most certainly would, he has no interest in doing so. Socrates does not want to conform to some other society and runaway, whom would he be if he went against his deeply held beliefs that he would die to protect. …show more content…

He also touches on how an injustice should never be repaid with an injustice. This injustice would be him escaping his punishment and going with Crito to live in exile. Socrates addresses Crito and says, "Tell me, Socrates, Crito what are you intending to do? By attempting this deed, aren't you planning to do nothing other than destroy us, the laws, and the civic community, as much as you can? Or does it seem possible to you that any city where the verdicts reached have no force but are made powerless and corrupted by private citizens could continue to exist and not be in ruins? (50b)” What Socrates is trying to explain to Crito is that if he helps him escape he is going against all that Athens stands for by breaking the law. In other words, Socrates cannot commit an injustice against the law because by doing this he would undermine the whole system. Socrates touches on how this system needs to be protected and he lists things that the government and city of Athens has given him and the people to justify his

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