ipl-logo

Socrates Ideas Revealed In Plato's Crito

817 Words4 Pages

The setting of Plato’s dialogue is Socrates having been found guilty and imprisoned thirty days before his execution. His friend, Crito visits him and expresses the purpose of his visit to Socrates. Crito persuades him to escape from prison and go avoiding his sentence of death. The difficulty Plato faces in composing this dialogue is to justify Socrates' decision to stay in prison rather than try to escape after his wrongful condemnation. Plato lists a few ideas from Socrates’ education that a multitude can do neither good nor harm with actions being irrational and man regarding opinions of intelligible men. Plato states Socrates’ view why he should not escape the prison. Plato’s first idea he has in mind is a multitude of people can …show more content…

Socrates asks Crito, “The good opinions are those of wise men, the bad ones those of foolish men? [Crito]: Of course. [Socrates]: “Come then, what of statements such as this: Should a man professionally engaged in physical training pay attention to the praise and blame and opinion of any man, or to those of one man only, namely a doctor or trainer? [Crito]: To those of one only”. Plato’s idea suggest to regard opinions from men who have the most experience. As Socrates mentions, receive the opinion from those who know and have the most experience with it. If one person believes this opinion, but does not know too much, Plato and Socrates suggest to believe the wise man with intelligible experience. Socrates also points out: “And if he disobeys the one, disregards his opinion and his praises while valuing those of the many who have no knowledge, will he not suffer harm? [Crito]: Of course. [Socrates]: What is that harm, where does it tend, and what part of the man who disobeys does it affect? [Crito]: Obviously the harms is to his body, which it ruins”. Also, one should not rely on a multitude of opinions because of one’s experience and education with the

Show More
Related
529 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More
543 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
1118 Words | 5 Pages

In this paper I will argue that Socrates’s argument at 50a-b of the Crito would be not harming his fellow citizens by breaking the laws. Based on the readings from Plato’s The Five Dialogues, I will go over the reasoning of Socrates’ view on the good life. I will then discuss the three arguments Crito has for Socrates regarding his evasion of the death sentence including the selfish, the practicality, and the moral arguments. I will deliberate an objection to the argument and reply to the objections made in the paper and conclude with final thoughts. Socrates argues in the Crito that he should not escape or disobey the law because it is unethical.

Read More
802 Words | 4 Pages

The version of Socrates presented in both The Apology, Crito, and The Republic could very well be two different versions of Socrates as presented by Plato. However, both versions of Socrates have one thing in common: they both value the importance of philosophy and they both defend philosophy as something that is important to humanity. The Apology is Socrates defending not only himself, but also philosophy as an area of study that could be useful to the city of Athens. Socrates is trying to defend himself and his study and he tries to distance himself from the sophists in that they charge for money.

Read More
499 Words | 2 Pages

By escaping from prison, he would be breaking the laws of the city. Since the laws all together are seen as one, by breaking one law he would be breaking all the laws. In order for a law to be legitimate, the citizens of the city must follow the laws. If the law is broken, it is no longer a legitimate law. This is why Socrates

Read More
1678 Words | 7 Pages

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.

Read More
1423 Words | 6 Pages

In Crito, Plato portrays Crito as Athens’ common man. Though wealthier and more educated than most, Crito’s intellect is used as a tool to exemplify how Socrates’ dedication to the polis differs from the majority of Athens’ population. Socrates maintains that “not living, but living well is to be regarded as most important” and therefore escaping from prison is not an option because it would be violating this principle (48b4-5). Socrates justifies this to Crito by refuting his arguments for escape and showing that fleeing would result in disobedience to the fatherland, violation of the social contract and his inability to continue to teach philosophy which would ultimately cause him to betray the polis he has striven to enhance.

Read More
710 Words | 3 Pages

Socrates should remain in prison after evaluating Critos arguments although Socrates’s were stronger. I’ll begin with Crito’s argument and what makes them strong, and what doesn’t. Next, I’ll focus on Socrates arguments and what makes them good and what makes them weak, mainly his focus that living with a bad soul isn’t worth living when you have a bad soul. Crito gives Socrates three arguments.

Read More
1382 Words | 6 Pages

Socrates believes that justice benefits the just, but also benefits the city (other people) too. He is faced with a seemingly simple choice, escape Athens or remain in prison and be sentenced to death. Socrates’ central argument against escaping his circumstances is twofold. First, Socrates argues that “one must never do wrong.” (49b)

Read More
1421 Words | 6 Pages

In conclusion, it is shown that the ethics of Socrates and Plato can be understood by examining the works of the Crito, Meno and Phaedo. Plato 's philosophical concept in these three dialogues is mostly about denying what the self wants, either normal things like food and earthly desires or trying to gain knowledge, and instead, choosing what is just and right. This is Plato’s concept of a good life. From this quest for knowledge, virtue is obtained, and this is the main goal of philosophy in Socrates ' mind. Laws must be made in accordance with wisdom by those who practice philosophy, and must seek to benefit the city as a whole.

Read More
837 Words | 4 Pages

On his way to his death some might say he should escape since his trial is unjust. Some might argue, like Socrates, that it isn't right for him to escape and go against his word. His friend Crito is trying to argue the reasons why Socrates is in the right for escaping, while Socrates is arguing the opposite, why his morals will not allow him to do so. Socrates argues many things and makes very firm arguments.

Read More
1595 Words | 7 Pages

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.

Read More
495 Words | 2 Pages

Plato says the responsibility of an enlightened person is to share their knowledge with others and that those who rule should not have a desire for power but rather a desire to help the people who don’t see the light. Those with enlightenment

Read More
1147 Words | 5 Pages

By challenging assumptions and seeking deeper understanding, individuals can move beyond mere acceptance and cultivate genuine wisdom. Throughout the dialogue, Socrates also repeatedly emphasizes his pursuit of knowledge and his acknowledgment of his own ignorance. He claims that his wisdom lies in recognizing the limitations of his knowledge, while others falsely believe they possess wisdom. Plato, through Socrates, encourages individuals to embrace self-examination and recognize their own intellectual and moral limitations. By acknowledging our ignorance and actively seeking knowledge, we can continuously grow and develop as

Read More
1021 Words | 5 Pages

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).

Read More

More about Socrates Ideas Revealed In Plato's Crito

Related Topics

Open Document