In Five Dialogues, written by Plato, Socrates? views are expressed on the individual and how it relates to the state itself. His ideas and values are focused and based around the polis, the state that he lives in. As well as Socrates, Virgil expresses his views of the individual to the state through his heroic character Aeneas in the Aenied. In both books, the individual is shown to be affected by the polis, and the individual and what he brings to it affect the polis. .
First, Socrates feels that he is in a way, is obligated to state. InCrito,? for instance Socrates tells Crito that he must not escape the jail cell because of the state. From 52e to 53e, he explains that a man must leave his polis, or else everything that he has worked for is gone. He makes it seem that his ideas of relative moralism forbid him to leave and escape his death. His duty and obligation to the state does not contradict his question of truth and thought as well. He does not accept Crito's offer because he does feel and believe that it is morally wrong to leave. He has built his life up by his state; he has never left the city and feels that there is no reason to. For this reason, the polis has had a very big affect on Socrates. This is similar with Oedipus in Sopholces? Oedipus the King. Oedipus has affected the city by solving the riddle, and he feels that it is his obligation to find out the curse and rid the city of it. He shows this, as he does not give up his search even when told to do so by his wife. Similarly, although it may seem like the city is against Socrates, it seems like he searches to disprove the oracles telling for the city. He does not wish the city to think of him as the wisest; he feels that would be wrong. Also, in 54c, Socrates says that there is an agreement between a person and the state and from this agreement will determine where one will be after death. .
Along those lines, Virgil shows his views through the heroic character Aeneas.
