Plato’s “Crito”
Class Notes on
Background to “Crito”
• The scene is the prison of Socrates, about a month after his trial. • Crito is a good friend of Socrates, and he was present at the trial. • Even those who condemned Socrates hoped that he would escape and leave the city.
Crito Appeals to Socrates
(27-35)
• I’ll lose my friend • People will think I didn’t try to save you (w/ money). • We’re willing to risk getting into trouble. • Many people are willing & able to bribe informers, arrange your escape. • Thessalians will protect you. • Don’t orphan your kids: be a man!
The Premises of the Consideration of Escape (36-69)
• I’m guided by reason, principles (36). • “The good [opinions] are to be regarded and not the bad” (40). • “The opinions of the wise are good, and the opinions of the unwise are evil” (42), e.g., gymnastics, health • “Not life, but a good life, is to be chiefly valued” (66) • “A good life is equivalent to a just and honorable one” (68).
Is Escape the Right Thing to Do? (70-107) • “We are never intentionally to do wrong,”
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and “injustice is always an evil and dishonor.” (74) Doing evil in return for evil is never right. Whom am I hurting by escaping? Can the State survive if its laws can be overthrown by individuals? (90, 92) Soc owes allegiance to the State for birth, growth, education. (94) It would be wrong to disobey the State (father/master). Implied contract: you’ve lived, served, raised kids here w/o leaving You could have chosen banishment. Escape shameful = friends exiled, Soc scorned as “subverter of laws,” kids deprived of “well-ordered cities.” The laws speak: “Justice first.” (102) These values are right, even if they’re unpopular.