- 02/03/2013
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
In its plot, the “Crito” dialogue draws on the continuation of the events discussed in “Apology of Socrates”, i.e. it describes Socrates as a prisoner under a court sentence and awaiting death in jail. The dialogue is a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito on justice and injustice, as well as the appropriate response to injustice.
During the conversation, Crito provides arguments in favor of Socrates’ escape from prison. According to Crito, he and his friends shouldn’t lose their closest friend, besides people could blame Crito for his unwillingness to save Socrates. Arguing with Crito, Socrates points to the inability of the majority to make some great evil or great good, which means that Crito shouldn’t be afraid of public opinions. But according to Crito, through the desire to stay in prison, Socrates commits injustice, similar to the one his enemies do. Socrates thinks that it is not right to reply to the original injustice with injustice and refuses from Crito’s offer to finance his escape from prison. This dialogue is an ancient model of the social contract theory of the state.
The answer of Socrates to these arguments is based, in his opinion, only on “reasonable belief” and fearlessness in front of the all-powerful majority. The issue of ratio between the views of the majority and the views of wise minority is one of the main themes of “Crito”. Socrates argues that it is necessary to follow the opinion of not everyone, but only some, namely, reasonable people, i.e. fair ones, or the opinion of one who knows what justice is, in other words, people must follow the truth.
On the other hand, in the “Crito” Socrates does not say exactly who should be trusted in matters of justice, calling this only “someone who knows”. Taking into account the importance of laws in the “Crito”, we can assume that Socrates relies on “Theaet” primarily. In addition, he marks that people shouldn’t just live, but live well, i.e. fairly, while Crito’s arguments are based not on the requirements of justice, but on the customs of the same unprincipled majority.
Socrates speaks to Crito as if on behalf of state laws. These laws regulate commitment of marriages, relations in families, carrying out education and upbringing of citizens, therefore the laws for a citizen is even more important than his parents. Is it acceptable in this case to violate them, i.e., to violate the requirements of the state and the motherland? The laws give citizens the right to disobey them, offering those who disapprove them to leave the country. But those who chose to stay in the native land had thus already committed themselves either to obey its laws as their parents and teachers, or influence the laws in case of their imperfection.
The arguments of personified laws are perceived by Socrates as indestructible. Therefore, the arguments and persuasions of Crito are useless: Socrates refuses to escape.
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