Following "Euthyphro" and "Apology", Plato's "Crito" is a crucial scene that takes place in Socrates' prison cell in Athens. After Socrates was found guilty for two crimes against the state, he was sentenced to the ultimate punishment of death. "Crito" begins with Socrates' friend Crito presenting Socrates with a generous yet daring proposal.
Crito brings to Socrates' attention a way to escape prison, and be sent into exile in order to save his life. Crito and Socrates become entangled in a vigorous debate between whether this action would be just or unjust. Socrates firmly believes that it is just to abide by the ruling of the state. He believes this because he feels that if he allows himself to be smuggled out of prison he would be breaking the law. By doing this, he would go against everything that he associates himself with, because he would be committing an unjust act. His entire defense was built upon the fact that everything he was doing was just, therefore by committing an unjust act now would tarnish his reputation to himself. Socrates' mindset is represented when he states, "One must not even return injustice when one is wrong," (88, 50C). Although Socrates views that he was unjustly sentenced to death, escaping his sentence would in fact be unjust in itself, therefore he must stay and accept the punishment. What Socrates is doing can be related to the old saying that "two wrongs do not make a right".
Crito arrives to Socrates' jail ceil with the intent to persuade him to exercise the escape arrangements. As the two debate whether it would be just or unjust for Socrates to escape, Crito remains content with going along with the escape, believing it is in fact just. Crito presents many reasons for Socrates to do so, but his main arguments state that if Socrates stays and accepts his punishment then his punishers would succeed in their unjust acts, which would ultimately be unjust. In addition, Socrates would be acting unjustly allowing himself to leave his sons behind to live without the aid of a father and the knowledge he would have to offer and teach them.
After this reading excerpt, I have come to the conclusion that Socrates is a very respectable man. He has his beliefs, and he does not deviate from them. He is a man that is willing to die for his cause. He clearly does not let others influence his opinions unless they are proven factual.
1 comment:
A dialogue between Crito and Socrates is taking place in the State prison at Athens in 399 BC. After Socrates has been condemned to death by the court his friend Crito is visiting him in his cell. Critos’ goal is to convince Socrates to escape from prison and go into exile. Critos’ first arguments’ is that Socrates death would make his friends look bad, because people might think the friends did nothing to save him. This argument is illustrated the best way by:”Most people will never believe that it was you who refused to leave this place when we tried to persuade you” (81). In addition to that Crito and his friends have enough savings to pay financial penalties to the states if it will be discovered that they helped a prisoner escape. Even a place to stay during Socrates exile is already prepared. The second argument Crito is bringing up is that Socrates enemies would be victorious by seeing him die. The third argument Crito is bringing up is that Socrates sons would be left alone by their father, if he would be executed.
Socrates comes up with arguments against Critos’ ideas. One should only listen to wise man and experts and never to the opinion of the public. The most important is the behaving according to the gods. The voice of the Laws of Athens talks to Socrates and enumerates several reasons why he shouldn’t escape. That voice “persuade(s) him that justice requires him to stay and face death” (89). One clear example is that a citizen is related to the laws like a baby to his parents. If a son is behaving unholy against their parents, it’s as unholy as if a citizen is mistreating his laws.
Post a Comment