Socrates Unjust
“The real question is whether the man has been justly slain. If justly, then your duty is to let the matter alone; but if unjustly, then even if the murderer is under the same roof with you and eats at the same table, proceed against him” (Plato 3). This quote from The Trial and Death of Socrates demonstrates acts in themselves are neither unjust nor just, and the perception by the person deciding whether the act is unjust or just, is the determining factor in the matter. In this case, Euthyphro, the man who said this, originally believes the act of murder is unjust, and believes he should in fact proceed against his father, even though in most perceptions it is considered impious; and although Socrates it is considered impious, Euthyphro’s
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This establishes that whether or not Socrates originally believes his punishment is right, by staying in Athens his entire life, he made a commitment to follow the law-being just-therefore, if he is accused of breaking the law and is convicted by the courts of Athens, which represent the law, then he must complete his sentence, or else he is only becoming more unjust. Socrates later decides that although he could escape, it is better to try and do the right thing, despite having done unjust things in the past, and ultimately decides to carry out his punishment. This passage also further examines the gray area within the idea of just and unjust by saying that following the laws is just; however, the people of the court who determine which acts are within the bounds the laws and which acts are not, are also biased according to their own personal perceptions, meaning no human truly knows the intransigent definitions of what is just and what is unjust. At the end of Crito, Socrates states “Then let me follow the intimations of the will of God” (Plato 54), giving insight into the belief that God has a predetermined plan for him, and if no human knows the true meaning of just and unjust, than if any being did understand this concept, it would be God. Socrates believes it is not up to him to go against God, and if God is doing nothing to stop his death, then this must be his plan. Therefore, if Socrates does not follow through with his plan, he will be going against God’s will, which is impious and ultimately
This establishes that whether or not Socrates originally believes his punishment is right, by staying in Athens his entire life, he made a commitment to follow the law-being just-therefore, if he is accused of breaking the law and is convicted by the courts of Athens, which represent the law, then he must complete his sentence, or else he is only becoming more unjust. Socrates later decides that although he could escape, it is better to try and do the right thing, despite having done unjust things in the past, and ultimately decides to carry out his punishment. This passage also further examines the gray area within the idea of just and unjust by saying that following the laws is just; however, the people of the court who determine which acts are within the bounds the laws and which acts are not, are also biased according to their own personal perceptions, meaning no human truly knows the intransigent definitions of what is just and what is unjust. At the end of Crito, Socrates states “Then let me follow the intimations of the will of God” (Plato 54), giving insight into the belief that God has a predetermined plan for him, and if no human knows the true meaning of just and unjust, than if any being did understand this concept, it would be God. Socrates believes it is not up to him to go against God, and if God is doing nothing to stop his death, then this must be his plan. Therefore, if Socrates does not follow through with his plan, he will be going against God’s will, which is impious and ultimately