Crito
- Philosophy 21
- Fall, 2004
- G. J. Mattey
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Escape?
- Socrates will be executed in two or three days unless Crito and his other friends arrange his escape and exile from Athens
- Money is no object, and he can take refuge in Thessaly
- Crito says he would be thought shameful by the majority if he did not help Socrates when he had the means
- He is willing to run the risk of reprisal
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Who is to Judge?
- Crito claims that the opinion of the majority is important, as they can do great harm
- Socrates disagrees
- We should pay more attention to the opinions of reasonable people
- The majority can do no great harm because they can do no great good, since they cannot make a person foolish or wise, but only inflict things haphazardly
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Justice?
- Crito says it would not be just for Socrates not to save himself as his enemies wish
- He is betraying his sons, whom he could educate
- Someone who is not committed to his childrens well-being should not have them
- Socrates is choosing the easiest path, not the path that the courageous man, concerned with virtue, would choose
- He is also making his friends look bad for not allowing them to save him
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Expertise
- One should value the opinion of one who has knowledge over that of the many
- The professional athlete should most value the opinion of the doctor or trainer
- If he does not, he will suffer harm
- This holds for all other matters, especially those regarding justice, shame, and good
- Life is not worth living for us if we are corrupted by unjust actions
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The Good Life
- Still, the majority can put one to death
- But the most important thing is not life itself, but the good life, which is also the beautiful and just life
- So the issue of escape turns on whether it is a just act, not what the majority would think about it
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Two Wrongs
- The issue is not the consequences of escaping or not, but of its justice
- To do wrong willingly is always harmful and shameful to the wrongdoer
- So, one must never answer a wrong act with a wrong act
- There is no common ground between those who disagree on this point
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Contract
- If two people make a just agreement, they should fulfill it
- Leaving Athens would be an abrogation of an agreement that would harm the other party
- The laws of the city would be undermined if the verdicts of its courts have no force
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The Laws
- Law must be followed, whether it is justly or unjustly applied
- Socrates has been the beneficiary of the laws
- He was born, raised, and educated in the city
- So it would be unjust to turn against its laws
- It is more impious to bring violence against the city than to do so against ones parents
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The Choices
- The laws of Athens allow a citizen to leave freely with is property
- To stay is to make a tacit agreement to obey the laws of the city
- The laws are not oppressive: it is open to Socrates to argue for better ones
- Socrates above all has made a strong agreement with the city
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Consequences
- If Socrates escapes, bad things will happen
- His friends will be in danger of many harms
- He will be received as an enemy of law
- If he finds an outlaw state, his life will not be worth living
- His conviction will be vindicated
- He will be disgraced
- On the other hand, no harm will come to his children, as his friends will look after them
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The Decision
- Crito must agree with Socratess argument on behalf of the laws of Athens
- He recognizes that facing death is the best choice
- Socrates concludes that he is led to this decision by the god
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