Platos Crito

br Plato 's Crito 1

Running Head : Plato 's Crito

Plato 's Crito

Seema Mishra

India Plato 's Crito 2 Abstract

Many scholars believe that Socrates ' accusers had unjustly punished him behind his blind

belief in law of Athens . His friends and followers even advised him to escape from the

prison but he denied and said that he believed in the law of Athens which had protected

him throughout his life and he will abide by the law even at the cost of his life . He was p

punished when found guilty of an impious action . He was very honest and

straightforward man and strongly believed in law and goodness in people Plato 's Crito is

in fact the argument that took place between Socrates and Crito just before Socrates was

asked to drink hemlock . Here Crito is trying to convince Socrates to escape from the

prison and Socrates believes in standing by the law of Athens whatever happens . Plato 's Crito 3

Plato 's Crito

To justify Socrates ' decision to stay in prison according to the law and obey

even the unjust punishment that was given to him by his accusers or to escape from the

prison is an issue that has been for debates for long . Socrates was sure to obey the law

and accepted the punishment of drinking the poison . Here Plato wants to give the laws its

own voice and discriminate it as a separate distinctiveness , trying to make it something

close to human where it is believed that Socrates ' punishment is unjust By going through

the dialogues between Socrates and Crito , I disagree with Crito and believe that Socrates

was right in abiding by the law and accepting the punishment of drinking the poison

Socrates had his own philosophy and reasons in going by the law and Crito tried his best

to persuade him to escape from the prison

Argument between Socrates and Crito

Crito said that by accepting the unjust punishment Socrates was in fact siding

with his accusers for which Socrates replies that if he escapes from the prison he will be

acting against the just law and also against people . He said that if the laws are just and

people unjust and both give out the same decision then he must obey the law even if it is

not justified humanly . He was not willing to side against the people because people were

his strength and he had accepted the punishment for them . Crito does not believe that if

Socrates does not abide by the law it will lead to social destruction and says that a single

proceed of noncompliance would be negligible when compared to the justified

movements by Socrates in future . Socrates speaks honestly and in a straightforward

manner and also indicates Crito that he might face some problems after his death . Plato 's Crito 4

Socrates gave a new way of belief to philosophy . His teachings are still inspiring

for lots of scholars and many philosophers were influenced by his views...