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Socrates Vs Crito Research Paper

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Since the beginning of Western philosophy Socrates has been one of the best known philosophers. He was born in Athens Greece from 470 - 399B.C. and is still very relevant in todays time for his insights for the way people should live. As Socrates reached the end of his life he was accused of many crimes including meddling and corrupting the minds of the youth. Socrates was eventually found guilty of these crimes and was sentenced to death. While Socrates was incarcerated he was visited often by a friended known as Crito to talk about the matter of his fate and also the possibility of escaping this fate. Crito wanted Socrates to escape prison however Socrates had a very different view on the matter. Socrates was gonna face his sentence, if he did not then this would nullify his teaching of morals and honor, this was a very respectful choice. Crito was afraid that people would think that he had done nothing when he could have, which would have ruined his reputation. To this, Socrates …show more content…

Additionally, his teaching and philosophy would not have the same effect since he would be going against everything that he had taught previously. He believed that it would be wrong for him to leave the arguments that he believed in from the past, just because he was set to die. If he were to change his philosophy on the law and how the rules were being followed, it should not be simply because he was in danger. By not escaping, he would be honorable just as his teachings had acknowledged. Socrates believed that an injustice should not be committed, knowingly and even in retaliation, it is wrong to inflict an injury upon someone who has wronged you since inflicting injury is a form of injustice. By escaping a fate that had been brought on by representatives from his city, Socrates would inadvertently be hurting the people and the

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Crito was afraid because his friend Socrates was willing to be executed; Crito made haste to explain that he can and must help Socrates to escape. All it would take is a few appropriate bribes to the guards and anyone who was willing to provide meaningful information, which would not be at all difficult to take care of. Crito further explains that if Socrates does not escape, no one would believe that he had willingly faced execution. Instead, Crito would be accused of not helping Socrates, He would rather be accused of being materialistic. Socrates suggests that one should only be cautious of the opinions of sensible people who will see things exactly as they turned out.

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543 Words | 3 Pages

Breaking this agreement would leave his conscience guilty and make his life not worthwhile. He also believes that if he were to leave it would tarnish his reputation of him, his children, who he wanted to raise in Athens, would also have to bear his reputation which would be ruined if he left. Socrates would rather die knowing that he did not break his agreement with Athens and ruin his reputation and have a clean conscience than flee to another city and live out the rest of his life with the guilt. Socrates also says that if he were to escape it would be hurting the city by undermining the judicial system and giving it no credibility to convict other criminals who would escape just as he did and leaving it susceptible to a state of no order and

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Socrates compares the relationship between a citizen and a city to that of a child and a parent. Athens has nurtured Socrates in body and mind, given him an ideal environment to raise his own children in, to give him a platform to exhort people to be virtuous (Crito, 51a). As any child benefits from the protections and provisions of a parent, he must also obey the parent when it requires something of him. So, Socrates considers it his civic duty to obey Athens wishes since he has benefited from his citizenship. Socrates reaches a conclusion that defies a common-sense understanding of

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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.

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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

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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.

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Moreover, Socrates’ claims that escaping from prison will “break the covenants and agreements” (37) between him and Athens, and argues that complying with injustice will cause moral harm to himself and to his state, Athens. In Crito, when Crito asks Socrates, that why comply with such crowning absurdity. Socrates answered, “do we ought to follow the opinion of the many and to fear them, or the opinion of the one man who has understanding?” (33). Socrates further explained that disobeying the state laws, by escaping from prison, is a compliance with injustice, rather than agreeing to an unjustified sentence.

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Crito and others have the money to bribe the informers and wants Socrates to let go of his fears if he has any because it is well worth the risk. (Crito,45a.) Crito believes he will be welcome in cities such as Thessaly where he has friends that

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The idea is that the city has been Socrates benefactor his entire life, but now if he turns against the laws, it undermines the authority of the Law and implies that Law and Order are meaningless. How could they city uphold laws if they have no power? The second

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Argument 1 and 3 Crito gives Socrates are about Socrates hurting him, by losing a good friend and he’ll have bad reputation. He’ll receive bad reputation

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Was Socrates right to say he would stay in Athens no matter the consequences, or should he have fled Athens to avoid death? Socrates was right to say he would stay in Athens no matter what because first, he believed he was sent to Athens or “placed in Athens” for a specific reason and he also believed that even though the Athenians found him as a threat and annoying, he believed that it helped them. Socrates was right to say he would stay in Athens no matter what the consequences were because he believed that he was placed or in Athens for a reason. This quote from “The Apology” is an example to prove that he was placed in Athens for a reason. “Because if I tell you that doing that would mean disobeying the god, and so I can’t keep quiet,

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In the “Crito”, Socrates argues to his friend that he should stay in prison and face the penalties the law had placed upon him despite being able to easily escape and leave Athens. He gives several reasons for this, including the idea that his agreement to Athens is the greatest responsibility he has. Socrates also believes that by doing anything against what has been ruled would be unjust, and thus would be a detriment to his soul. In his opinion, it is not worth living with a ruined soul. I disagree with his rationale and will argue in this essay that his reasons while plausible and appear to be valid at first glance, are actually more normative and not at all necessary.

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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)

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107 Words | 1 Pages

“I cannot put away the reasons which I have before given: the principles which I have hitherto honored and revered I still honor”. Socrates states this fact while discussing with Crito the issue of wether or not he should escape sentencing in Athens. Should he escape Athens and abandon all of his beliefs, which he has spent his life preaching? or Should he accept his sentencing, and go down for something that he believes in? I agree with Socrates that he should not escape from Athens to continue teaching because, if he did escape, he would be going against his core beliefs and adversely affecting his

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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.

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