Notes on Crito

(Originally written November 22, 2016 in Book 26)

Crito

Crito (Socrates' friend) is desperately trying to convince Socrates to escape to exile and save his life.

Crito claims Socrates' death will be a double misfortune for him. He will lose a friend that he cannot replace and people will think Crito did not want to spend the money to save him because no one will believe that Socrates wanted to die. Socrates chides him for coming for the opinion of the unruly masses.

Crito tells Socrates he can escape using his money or if he doesn't want to impose many others have money for him to escape.

Crito calls Socrates unjust for not saving his life when he can. He claims Socrates is betraying his sons.

Socrates says the truth remains the truth; the right thing remains the right thing, regardless of what the masses say.

One must never do wrong. Even if one is wronged, one must not wrong another for being wronged. Socrates says that the few who truly believe this will always be at odds with those who do not truly believe it.

Socrates then states the State is more important to a man than even his own father. As it is wrong to disobey one's ancestor, it is even more wrong to disobey one's country. "Is your wisdom such as not to realize that your country is to be honored more than your mother, your father, and all your ancestors, that it is to be revered and more sacred, and that it counts for more among the gods and sensible men, that you must worship it, yield to it, and placate its anger more than your fathers? You must either persuade it or obey its orders, and endure in silence whatever it instructs you to endure" (Plato, 51)

Socrates argues the State gives people two options: leave in peace with your possessions or stay and abide by the State's laws. As a citizen you can persuade the State; but, if it is not persuaded then one must abide by its laws and rulings. By stayion one enters voluntarily into an agreement with the State.

If Socrates were to flee now he would be doing wrong to Athens when he could have done right by choosing exile in court.

If Socrates flees unjustly he will justifty the unjust ruling of the court.

Socrates says by escaping he will be acting in a way to kill the laws of Athens and will thus recieve hostile reception whereever he goes that has laws, whether Greek or foreign city or even the underworld which has laws too.