Throughout his life Socrates was concerned with morality, justness and the soul. The Apology and Crito tell the story of his trial and imprisonment. He presents his opinions in his conversational way and forges his opinion on morality, justness and the soul into one claim. I tend to regard the dramatic events before his death as a test and I claim he passed. He puts his beliefs in action in the very face of death and sticks to them without contradicting his credo and his actions. In the following I am going to explain and asses Socrates' reasons for not escaping prison as his friend Crito recommended. When Crito tried to pursue him to end his imprisonment on his own account he rejected and debilitated his friends' arguments about why he should leave before his execution. I will go into further detail about Socrates' opinion on obedience and justness as they are presented in Crito. Moreover, I will evaluate his arguments with regard to the Apology which seems to contradict his position in Crito at first glance.
Table of Contents
1. Why does Socrates reject Crito’s offer of escape?
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the philosophical motivations behind Socrates' refusal to escape prison, as presented in Plato's dialogues "Apology" and "Crito". It analyzes his concepts of morality, obedience to the law, and the hierarchy of authority, ultimately evaluating how he reconciles his commitment to the state with his higher duty to divine commands.
- The moral duty to obey the Laws of Athens versus personal survival.
- The relationship between the individual, the state, and divine authority.
- Socrates' definition of "living well" versus merely "living".
- The potential contradiction between his stance in the "Apology" and the "Crito".
- The concept of the social contract between the citizen and the city.
Excerpt from the Book
Why does Socrates reject Crito’s offer of escape?
According to Socrates “in no circumstances must one do wrong” and “one must not even return injustice when one is wronged” which means that even if the death sentence can be considered unjust it does not allow Socrates to break the Law and act unjustly in return. (Crito 49 b) Moreover, Socrates and Crito agree on the fact that just agreements have to be fulfilled. Subsequently Socrates asks Crito whether he would break a just agreement if he fled, but Crito does not answer the question. To clarify the situation for Crito he introduces the voice of the Laws of Athens and engages in an artificial dialogue with them, in which the voice of the laws accuses him of attempting to destroy the laws and the whole state. (cf. Crito 50 b) In the argument which Socrates develops he presents the relationship of state and individual similar to the one of father and child or master and slave in order to illustrate the complete obedience he owes to the city. So the citizen of Athens owes his education and his mere being to the state and serves it as a subordinate who does not have the same rights as the state, but gets “a share in all the good things at […] [their] disposal” (Crito 51 d). As a Athenian citizen he is allowed to leave the city at any time which means that if he stays he agrees to be subject to the laws of Athens.
Summary of Chapters
1. Why does Socrates reject Crito’s offer of escape?: This chapter explores Socrates' refusal to flee, analyzing his arguments regarding morality, legal obedience, and his hierarchical understanding of duty towards the state versus higher divine authority.
Keywords
Socrates, Crito, Apology, Morality, Justness, Obedience, Laws of Athens, Prison, Philosophy, Virtue, Divine Authority, State, Citizenship, Social Contract, Ethics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper fundamentally addresses the philosophical justification behind Socrates' decision to remain in prison and accept his execution rather than accepting Crito’s offer to escape.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The central themes include the ethics of justice, the obligation of a citizen to the state, the importance of the soul, and the hierarchy of moral duties.
What is the main objective or research question?
The main objective is to explain and assess the reasons Socrates provides in the "Crito" for not escaping, and to evaluate these reasons against his statements in the "Apology".
Which scientific method is utilized in this work?
The work employs a text-based analytical and comparative method, interpreting the arguments within Plato's "Apology" and "Crito" and integrating secondary academic literature.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines Crito's arguments for escape, Socrates' counter-arguments based on the Laws of Athens, the concept of the social contract, and the ultimate hierarchy of obedience from secular to divine laws.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Socrates, Crito, morality, justness, obedience, and the relationship between the individual and the state.
How does Socrates view the relationship between the citizen and the state?
Socrates views the relationship as analogous to that of a child to a father or a slave to a master, where the citizen owes complete obedience to the city in return for the benefits provided by it.
Why does Socrates claim to owe a greater obedience to God?
Socrates argues that if he is given conflicting orders from secular authorities and God (who commanded him to practice philosophy), he must prioritize the higher, divine authority.
Does Socrates consider fleeing to be an act of injustice?
Yes, Socrates argues that fleeing would be an act of injustice because it would violate his agreement with the laws of Athens and effectively serve to destroy the authority of the state.
- Quote paper
- M. A., M. Ed. Felix Krenke (Author), 2014, Why does Socrates reject Crito’s offer of escape?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1007994
