Argumentative Essay On Crito

The essay “Crito” is a dialog between Socrates and Crito’s, who is trying to convince Socrates to escape from prison and his ultimate death. Both parties give good reasons on their positions, but it ultimately is Socrates’s decision. The Conversation begins with Socrates questioning Crito, why he is there so early, which he replied that he comes to the prison often and knows the “prison-warder” (43a). He continues to tell Socrates that he could not sleep because his friend is about to be executed. Socrates has not yet drunk the hemlock for there is no execution allowed while Athens celebrates their “annual sea-mission” called the monitor celebration (43c). During their conversation, Socrates tells Crito about a dream he had of a woman that
said to him, “Thou shalt reach fertile Phthia upon the third day” (44b). This is about Achilles, a Greek hero, returning to his homeland, and now Socrates believes his soul will return to his homeland. Crito is willing to use philosophy to come to an answer of whether it is just or unjust to leave the prison to escape his death sentence.
The question that Socrates is asking Crito is, “what is the rule of the law?” But Crito, does not accept this outcome, as what friend would. The conversation goes back and forth about the consequences of Socrates escaping his death. Part of the problem is that Socrates has pitted himself into this method of punishment because during the closing arguments of his trial he only gave one option as a punishment (Apology 37a-38c). With the conversation not really going anywhere because it seems that Socrates is comfortable with his situation. He informs his friend that, “it is in my nature, not just now for the first time but always, to follow nothing within me but the principle (Logos) which appears to me, upon reflection, to be best” (46b). For Crito, it must be like arguing with a wall, as Socrates although he appreciates his friends help, is set on drinking the hemlock. Socrates and Crito, agree that they should just speak about whether it is just or unjust to escape his predicament, and what would other people think (46c). To Socrates his reputation is on the line, and it is more important than
living. He possesses a question to Crito, “We should attach the highest value, shouldn’t we, not to living, but to living well” (48b)? He uses this question to bring Crito to and understanding of what is justice. Crito is finally starting to understand that to retaliate and do an injustice to someone is not justice at all. Socrates then explains that if he does escape and lives outside the law he would be destroying the law. He does this by showing Crito’s that he was willing to live in Athens and to be educated by the city, to be married under the city’s legal system and many more example. But now after all this that the city of Athens did for him, he took advantage of their kindness. They allow him access to these things, and now he calls into question their legal system (50b-e). He continues his argument that he is a loyal citizen of Athens, that he has put himself under their law. He concludes the argument with that his friends might be banished for helping him but ultimately, he would not have the reputation in another city because of his escaping his death sentence in Athens. He would not be respected as a just person and would not be able to live the life that he said in the “Apology” that he could not live without. Ultimately Socrates would be confirming the allegations against him if he were to escape and try to live a life outside of Athens. He concludes that he does not have much of a life to live anyways because of his age. He gives instructions to his friends on how to raise his children, and not to let them give uneducated answers. Crito, excepts Socrates’s argument and does not question him any further.