Why Did Crito Come To Socrates Requesting For Him To Escape Prison?

In the reading, Crito came to Socrates requesting for him to escape prison. Crito presented some arguments as to why Socrates should leave while in return, Socrates presented counter arguments as to why he should stay. In the end, Socrates chose to stay in prison and go along with his death sentence. Socrates doing this was the correct choice because Crito failed to present a compelling argument to why he should leave (54-end). Socrates is already of old age, so why damage his reputation by escaping and living the little years he had left to suffer a lifetime of guilt, hatred, and throwing away a possibility for those left behind to witness the flaws in their governmental system. Crito’s reasons for Socrates escape were very narrow and not compelling in any way, for someone wanting to convince someone to save their own life. For example, when Crito started his argument with him saying that he would be losing a friend, but he also added that his reputation was on the line (44c). Saying this first would already make a person think whether Crito is really concerned about Socrates or his reputation. Why would one mention that at the beginning if it was not an objective? Also, at a time like that why would you point the

In Crito’s argument, he states that by staying Socrates would be betraying his sons (45c-e). So, knowing that their father was like this would not Socrates actually be corrupting them by leaving? If he left, that would teach them and other children that lying is okay, that you should not listen to the wise, and to harm others who you owe everything you have to. So, if Socrates left he would be a hypocrite, going against almost everything he believed. Even if we looked at it differently, Socrates knew he was already old in the first place so leaving might only give his children a little more time before he died of age