Socrates_vs_Crito

Socrates vs Crito Socrates vs. Crito: A Decision of Life Courtney Intro. to Philosophy May 29, 2000 Summer Pre-Session Socrates vs. Crito: A Decision of Life The dialogue Crito, by Plato, recounts the last days of Socrates, immediately before his execution was going to take place in Athens. In the dialogue, Socrates’ friend, Crito, proposes that Socrates escape from prison. Socrates considers this proposal, trying to decide if escaping would be “just” and “morally justified.” Eventually, Socrates concludes that the act is considered “unjust” and “morally unjustified.” Socrates decides to accept his death penalty and execution. Socrates was a man who would pursuit truth in all matters (Kemerling 1999). In his refusal to accept exile from Athens or a commitment to silence as a penalty, he takes the penalty of death and is thrown into prison. While Socrates is awaiting his execution, many of his friends, including Crito, arrive with a foolproof plan for his escape from Athens to live in exile volu! ntarily. Socrates calmly debates with each friend over the moral value and justification of such an act. “...people who do not know you and me will believe that I might have saved you if I had been willing to give money, socrates, state, crito, life, truth, escape, justice, children, plato, one, morality, moral, friends, think, should, prison, live, kemerling, dialogue, athens, therefore, socrates’, penalty, decision, commitment, wrong, willing, while, very, says, raised, people, over, ought, obeying, nor