(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Socrates in the Crito

What reasons could an innocent man have for wanting to die for something he was not guilty of? If his objective was to prove to the jury he was a just and honorable man and therefore incapable of the charges against him; this might be the reason an innocent man with serious convictions would die for his cause.
             Socrates ideas of whether or not he should escape prison have to do with whether it is right or wrong, or just or unjust, to do so. A man would be morally righteous or superior if he knows the true difference between what is right and what is wrong. If a man has this knowledge, then does something considered unjust or wrong, even if only he considers it to be a wrong action, he will bring damage to himself or to his soul. I believe Socrates had this knowledge. Even though he said true knowledge was knowing or admitting that you do not know something, Socrates knew because of his belief of what was the truth. Socrates had a standard of what was true and by being true or just he could avoid doing an action that was unjust. Socrates thought to be a virtuous man was to have a healthy soul (Allen p. 71). It is reasonable to Socrates to sacrifice himself without expecting a reward for this action, if the alternative to not dying would be escaping, which would be an act of injustice. It is better to suffer an injustice than to cause the injustice. This was another of Socrates beliefs. .
             I find his argument to be unsound because I feel like the choice to escape or not should depend more on doing justice to yourself by not letting yourself be put to death for something you did not do. It would have been hard for me to take the view Socrates had and decide to do what is right above all else. It would be difficult to make an example of yourself. Your soul would be hurt because of the injustice being done to you, so hurt that it might take precedence over the idea that you had to do what was right no matter the cost.


Essays Related to Socrates in the Crito

1. Crito

... that helping Socrates escape was out of the question, because the laws were beyond that. They end as being able to withstand anything thrown at them. Although the honor of the Laws was challenged throughout the Crito, they retained their strength. They were no longer vague, but precise guidelines to live by. By the end of the Crito, the Laws are well-established principles that are still used today. Socrates, in one of ... his quotes, declared the Laws to be "strains of music" in his ears. To him, being loyal to ... ...

  • Word Count: 333
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Socrates in Crito

... that a violation of Athenian law would signify his reneging on the implicit compact between himself and the state. Thus damaging the laws, as well as Socrates' own future prospects, whether abroad or in the afterlife. Just before the break of dawn in the Athenian prison, a solemn Socrates greets his visitor Crito, who wastes little time in revealing his plans for Socrates" immediate escape. However, Socrates, somewhat surprisingly, does not seem quite so willing to ... there is a culprit in the travesty, that would have occurred naturally, which is Socrates" death. Nonetheless, Crito ur...

  • Word Count: 2254
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Socrates vs Crito

... that belong to you be happier or holier or juster in this life, or happier in another, if you do as Crito bids." -Socrates (Plato 577), is one of the most important and crucial in the Crito dialogue. Socrates provides a very convincing argument of why he should not escape from the Athenian prison. He states that if he does as Crito suggests and escapes, it will not be justifiable nor ... they may have gotten if he had not escaped. Justice seemed to be a very important factor to Socrates, and is part of his pursuit of truth for all matters. Justice and truth, in the Crito dialogue, go han...

  • Word Count: 1118
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. The End

... execution was going to take place in Athens. In the dialogue, Socrates"" friend, Crito, proposes that Socrates escape from prison. Socrates considers this proposal, trying to decide if escaping would be ""just"" and ""morally justified."" Eventually, Socrates concludes that the act is considered ""unjust"" and ""morally unjustified."" Socrates decides to accept his death penalty and execution. Socrates was a man who would obey truth in all matters. In his refusal to accept exile from ... to help him. Therefore, Crito goes on to argue that Socrates ought to escape from the prison. After ...

  • Word Count: 676
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Trial and Death of Socrates

... to go around and question the politicians and high citizens of the city on their wisdom. The youth of the city began to notice this and appreciated his wisdom and guts for doing this. Once the politicians saw this they became angry and brought this accusation against Socrates. This point is where the whole charge of corruption comes from. In the conversation between Socrates and Crito, Socrates puts forward some interesting statements ... . He says that one should not be guided by what the majority believes to be true or good. This is in response to Crito saying that majority will believ...

  • Word Count: 1748
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Socrates

... . Socrates makes his presentation of the Social Contract in what is sometimes called "The Speech of the Laws" in the Crito, sections 50a-54d. Crito has come to persuade Socrates, who is in jail awaiting execution, to escape the city and save his life. Crito gives many arguments to persuade Socrates, but each of Crito's arguments is met with counterarguments by Socrates to accept his fate. The last, and most philosophically profound, is the "Speech of the Laws". Socrates explains ... to Crito that ... ...

  • Word Count: 2786
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Socrates and the Laws of the State

Assignment Questions 1. What is Socrates' conception of the relationship between the individual and the State or Laws, as shown in the Crito? 2. How is this seen in the example of his own life? 3. What inconsistencies are there with his views in the Apology, and how might these be accounted for? Response The Crito is in many ways a confusing and erratic dialogue, with Socrates and Crito at odds over what many would see to be a straightforward proposal - that ... Socrates should escape from prison. The potential frustration of the ... ...

  • Word Count: 1337
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Crito

... but never did. This is the breaking point in Socrates argument. One must never do wrong, no matter what the circumstances are. Everyone has been taught this one way or another. Socrates defense of the benefits the city has given him was excellent in order to shut down Crito. His escape would allow people to think that the verdicts of the court are useless. The laws in any state of government are ... made to protect the people. For example, citizens who live in the United States have signed an imaginary contract that states that ... each will abide by the laws. If Socrates were to flee, ...

  • Word Count: 948
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Apology vs the Crito

... from ever practicing philosophy again, then he will disobey that order. On the contrary, Socrates states in the Crito, that he must abide by the laws of Athens, and choose not to escape from prison. So in the first incident, Socrates argues that the will of the people can be disobeyed when unjust, however in the second incident, he argues that the law should not be broken at any cost. Plato uses these scenarios ... it restricts living a virtuous life. In other words, there is a difference in the types of justices that are being affected in the Apology and the Crito. In the Apology, Socr...

  • Word Count: 1565
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question