Socrates Disobeying Authority Analysis

Socrates is sentenced to exile or death, on the charges of: openly practicing philosophy, followed by the corruption of the young, and disbelief in the gods of Athens. Before these forces come for Socrates, his friend, Crito, visits Socrates to persuade him to escape and thrive elsewhere with his family before the authorities arrive because of their unjust charges. Socrates is then put in one of the most recurring dilemmas in history, and in some situations in present life, should he escape Athens with his life, disobeying authority, or instead see his own fate by the courts? After listening to Crito's points, Socrates decides that he should not disobey authority because the decision of the expert is always correct over masses because the

I hold the belief that authority gains its jurisdiction and purpose through servicing the individual and when authority has failed to serve its purpose it is the subject's right to question and disobey. This philosophy is echoed in many of the constitutions of the modern world governments such as the United States. It is the subjects' faith in that the authority at hand is motivated to make these regulations for the common well being. Furthermore, the faith in that authority can be shaken as authority asserts control over controversial ethical dilemmas. As faith is shaken, this leads to the subjects questioning of the motivations of authority in making their legislation, to whether it is truly serving them. Once authorities jurisdiction has been questioned, the subjects then must choose their actions based on their own self motivations, or morality, and the motivations of the authoritarian figure. Disobeying authority is justified if the authority has overextended its control into servicing its own needs instead the interests of the individual and that your motivation for disobeying too is not selfishly