Socrates and Crito: Teaching Morals and Honor

1342 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Education theories of socrates

Socrates was a one of the first philosophers and teachers known to Western philosophy. He lived in Athens Greece from 470 – 399 B.C. and is studied to this day because of his insights and understanding of the way people should live. Towards the end of his life, Socrates was accused of a myriad of crimes including criminal meddling and the corruption of the minds of the young. Eventually, Socrates was found guilty of his crimes and shortly after he was condemned to death. During the time of his incarceration, he was visited by a friend known as Crito to discuss the matter of his death in addition to the proposal of escape from prison. Crito initially believed that it would be in Socrates best interest to escape prison and live in exile instead of facing death. Socrates, however, had a different view on escape and chose not to flee. Instead, he faced his sentence and explained his reasoning to be what he believed was right. Escaping could have been feasible for a few different reasons including instances such as his children and the people that he taught. For the type of teacher that he was, his reasons for not escaping are understandable and respectable, and he believed that escaping was wrong. Since he believed it wrong, it was good that Socrates chose not to escape. Escaping would essentially nullify his teaching of morals and honor and his reasons for living.

Socrates had a few reasons for accepting his punishments and not escaping the death sentence that he was handed. In hopes to convince Socrates to escape prison, his friend Crito visited him in prison before he was put to death. Crito initially began pleading with Socrates to escape because he did not want to lose a friend and he was afraid that people would think that he...

... middle of paper ...

...dditionally, Socrates believed that escaping would show that the people who tried him and found him guilty that they had in fact done the right thing. This would further their assumptions that he was corrupting the minds of people by running away and disobeying the law. If he had escaped, he may have been invalidated and may not be as important historically as he is today. Whether or not it made an impact on Athens or the rest of the world, Socrates did what he believed was right for himself and for the people. I believe that Socrates did what was honorable at the time. His honor and incite in to the way that people should live has been carried on through history is proof that people still value his ideas and reasoning.

Works Cited

Rachels, James, and Stuart Rachels. The Truth about the World. Ed. Meredith Grant.

New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Plato's Crito

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    In life, people are taught many different ways to do things. Based on their learning, they form diverse perspectives and make knowledgeable decisions with the information given at the time. Some of the decisions can be influenced by values, morals, beliefs, religion, experiences, families and the world in which one lives. All of these factors can support and influence an individual’s principles. In Plato’s Crito, a dialogue is captured between Crito and Socrates about his escape from prison. In his writings, Crito discusses his reasons and thoughts why Socrates should escape his fate. On the flip side, Socrates provides just as many reasons he should stay in prison even though it was unjust.

    Read More

  • The Apology and Crito

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    When Socrates was sentenced to death, his friend Crito offers to help him escape, but he refuse to escape. He explains to Crito that if he were to escape he would be running away his whole life. He would stay at Athens and comply with the sentence as set by Athens law and die for his cause. Another reason that he gave Crito for not escaping was that he was already death alive and that he was too old to be running away .

    Read More

  • Socrates Parent-Child Argument Essay

    1010 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates was a famous Athenian philosopher who was sentenced to death for the charges of corruption of the youth and impiety, or the act of not worshipping Athenian gods. In Plato’s dialogue, The Crito, Socrates argues to Crito his reasoning to stay in prison. Socrates gives three major explanations why he should not escape; the first being that if he escapes he it would be unjust to the state, the second being that people must always keep their promise, and lastly we must obey or respect our parents and teachers. The purpose of this essay is to show that Socrates’ arguments are flawed.

    Read More

  • Socrates Argument in the Crito

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates argues in the Crito that he shouldn't escape his death sentence because it isn't just. Crito is distressed by Socrates reasoning and wishes to convince him to escape since Crito and friends can provide the ransom the warden demands. If not for himself, Socrates should escape for the sake of his friends, sons, and those who benefit from his teaching. Socrates and Crito's argument proceeds from this point.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Sophocles Antigone And Crito

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Plato’s “Crito”, Socrates, who is convicted of spreading false beliefs to the youth in Athens is in an argument with his friend, Crito. Crito tries to convince Socrates of the reality of his sentence and that it would only make sense for him to escape. He gives many reasons of why escaping is necessary and moral. Crito states,

    Read More

  • Socrates and His Innocence

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    Socrates lived such a private life that it lead to the most important revelation of his entire life. He would go about his life doing nothing but self-examination. In examining his life so strenuously others would come to him to be taught, or to have their children be taught by Socrates. They would offer him money and he would refuse. They would do whatever they could to learn anything Socrates had to teach. What they did not know is that Socrates was not teaching anyone he was simply going about his usual life and people just happened to learn from it. This was also why Socrates was put on trial. He was brought up on two charges, one of impiety and the other of corrupting the youth. These two charges set the course for the last month of his life.

    Read More

  • Why Does Socrates Disobey The Law In Plato's Crito

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Crito, Socrates is put into jail for an immoral doing and Crito, his good friend, wants to break him out of the prison, but Socrates states retaliation is not the answer. Why would we be held to death under the law if we did nothing wrong, even though we had a way out? This question occurs multiple times throughout the story but is never actually answered, it seems as if anyone in the world today would leave prison for a life outside the country if they have to flee. I believe he is sick of the world as he is so old in this age of time. Normal people only live to their thirties and this man is over seventy right now. Does the accused have the right to break the law if they never committed breaking the law in which they are accused of? This is a big controversy in this story and in real life. From my interpretation, he respects the law and does not want any guilt in his life for later on. He would rather die a happy man than have guilt running through his head the whole time if he gets out.

    Read More

  • Plato's The Crito

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many instances in Plato's the Crito where Socrates gives reasons for himself to stay in Athens and face his death. Arguments range from that of him being too old to run, to the common response two wrongs don't make a right. The reason I intend to argue against is one Socrates expresses in regards to his obligations to the city he has lived in all his life, and thus the rules that he has subsequently followed throughout that time. In Athens just like any other city, one follows the rules that the respective city has laid down because he/she believes in those laws, or does not and keeps silent. In the stand Socrates takes, he argues that since he has lived in Athens all his life, he is required to stand his ground and take what's thrown his way, even if that punishment is death, "do you think you have the right to retaliation against your country and its laws?" (Crito, 53) Socrates was a master of words. It is easy to say that his intellect allowed him to make anyone see all sides of an argument. Even Crito at times is confused about his decision to free his friend, think that he is making the right decision, "or do you think it possible for a city not to be destroyed if the verdicts of its courts have no force but are nullified and set at naught by private individuals."(Crito, 52) Socrates’ words are very convincing, but what he is not thinking about is the fact that this whole predicament was not meant to be. Socrates was supposed to be in all ...

    Read More

  • The Trail Of Socrates And The Apology Of Plato

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...uments are completely different. Crito wants Socrates to escape because he doesn’t deserve to die because he did nothing wrong. Socrates argues back that if he escapes he will be breaking the law. Which is the thing that he is trying to uphold. Socrates believes that escaping will go against all the things he has been arguing and teaching the youth.

    Read More

  • Socrate's Escape

    1528 Words  | 4 Pages

    In his jail cell, Crito assumes that Socrates is worried about how much money it would take to complete his escape, and assures him that strangers and friends have already offered to assist him with this obstacle. It seems that Crito’s main concern is that people will not believe that Socrates refused the offer to escape, and this will damage Crito’s reputation as well as the rest of Socrates’ friends'. People will assume that Crito was too cheap or did not care enough to help his friend, and for that he will be disrespected by what he calls the “majority” of the citizens.

    Read More

  • Virtue In Plato's Crito

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    Therefore, socrates does not believe his life to be worth living if he does not live in accordance with the good life, which he asserts is the just life (48b), which Crito also agrees to. Furthermore, Socrates argued that no one should ever willingly do wrong, even when one is done wrong to, which Crito agrees to as well (49d). Socrates argues since the law is just, as he had lived under them, been protected by them, and he did not try to change it, while he had the chance. Therefore, Socrates believed that he could not break the law, after he had benefited from them. The laws create order, and undermining them for a single citizen would be a crime against his country (51a). Country, Socrates says, is honored by the gods and more important that honoring one’s mother and father (51b). Socrates, then, should not break the law because he would be willingly committing injustice against the state. A state that has been good to him, that he was a citizen in, and raised sons in (52d). Also, by escaping, he would be proving his accusers right, because one that did not obey the law and escaped his punishment would be seen as a criminal, which is what his accusers want him to be seen as.

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast: Socrates and Jesus Christ

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates, according to Plato challenged the norms of society by questioning life and having others question it as well. He was labeled of “corrupting the youth” and for not believing in the Athenians gods. “Socrates is guilty of corrupting the young, and of not acknowledging the gods the city acknowledges, but new daimonic activities instead.” (The Apology, pp 654) Although, he was cast by being “corrupt”, Socrates had many followers that saw him as a wise man. Socrates trial was made up of thirty jurors, who were later known as “The Thirty.” The “Thirty” really wanted was to silence Socrates, rather than taking his life. However, Socrates did not want to disobey the laws, he did not want to be violated of his right to freedom of speech, nor did he did he want to be undermine his moral position. (The Apology, pp. 647) He stood against injustice acts several times while he was in counsel. “I was the sort...

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Crito

    1446 Words  | 3 Pages

    Crito stated to Socrates that they had enough money and resources to help him escape. I believe that Socrates should have taken this opportunity when he had the chance. Crito made it clear to Socrates the pros and cons of staying in prison, or running away, and I personally believe that he should have left. Since Socrates stayed to die, his children did not finish growing up with a father, and all of Socrates students had to learn without him. He was a great help and a good friend to everyone he knew, and that is a clear reason why he should have escaped from prison, and taken his friends and family somewhere far away from Athens. Crito told Socrates that he had friends in other places that would kindly bring Socrates in and hide him. There was really no reason Socrates should have stayed in prison except for the misconception he had of doing wrong. Socrates believed that breaking any law is a crime, no matter what the consequences of committing the crime actually were.² If there is a law set out, Socrates believed nobody should be breaking it, for any reason, which I do not agree

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Socrates And Crito

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    Plato's "Crito" begins with Socrates in prison due to his sentence by his Athenian peers, he awakes to find Crito in his cell; Crito had bribed the guards to the prison. Crito then tries to convince Socrates to escape to Thessaly, where he can have a safe life. Socrates was not easily convinced as he believed that he should suffer his punishment even if it is unjust, wanting his death to be an example for the jurors and those of Athens. Crito pleas to Socrates with a number of arguments, standing against his enemies in Athens (politicians, craftsman, etc), for the

    Read More

  • Socrates' Pursuit of Wisdom

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ns. Why would he do this if he did not see the laws of Athens as just? In order to fulfill the agreement he has made with Athenian law, Socrates must accept the punishment he is given, though he feels that his being punished is Athens wronging him. It would be wrong, by his view, to escape from prison, though he would not be pursued, because he would be breaking his agreement to obey Athenian law. Since he and Crito previously agreed that one must never do wrong, he simply must stay in jail until his death. This is merely one example of the way in which Socrates uses a method of logical dialogue in order to make his point. He appears to be unmatched in his skills of deduction and consistently demonstrates his love of knowledge and truth. Socrates exemplifies all that is philosophy, both as a student and a teacher, because of his constant, active pursuit of wisdom.

    Read More

More about Socrates and Crito: Teaching Morals and Honor

Open Document