Response Paper on Platos Crito
Response Paper: The Crito Socrates argues in the Crito that he shouldn 't escape his death sentence because it isn 't just. 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. 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. Socrates expresses that he is obligated to obey the laws of his city by living there, which means you should obey your parents and the morals in which you were raised. Socrates was very guided by reason.
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. Socrates says "do you think you have the right to retaliation against your country and its laws?" (Plato) 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, thinking that he is making the right decision. Socrates continues, "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."(Plato) 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 likelihood banished from Athens by the courts. Nobody suspected that Socrates would advocate for his own death. In regards to his situation, if he were to leave, the towns’ people would not have thought badly about his decision to keep his life. Perhaps if he had though about this, he would
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. Socrates says "do you think you have the right to retaliation against your country and its laws?" (Plato) 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, thinking that he is making the right decision. Socrates continues, "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."(Plato) 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 likelihood banished from Athens by the courts. Nobody suspected that Socrates would advocate for his own death. In regards to his situation, if he were to leave, the towns’ people would not have thought badly about his decision to keep his life. Perhaps if he had though about this, he would
Cited: Plato, Crito, Trans. Benjamin Jowett. The Internet Classics Archive. Web Atomic. Web. 4 Feb. 2014 http://voices.yahoo.com/analysis-main-arguments-crito-plato-6490024.html