Crito Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Question But my dear Crito, why should we pay so overmuch attention to what most people think? The reasonable people, who bring more claim to be considered, will believe that the facts are exactly as they are (906).Personification Consider then, Socrates, the legalitys would probably continue, whether it is also true for us to say that what you are trying to do to us is not right (913).Platos Crito is adept of the many tremendously influential pieces of literature produced in ancient Greece. It is a thought-provoking, philosophical discussion regarding the role of the individual within society, and how to treat injustice. As take time off of a series of imaginary dialogues between Socrates and other characters, Crito deals with the conflict Socrates is presented with, as he awaits execution. Crito, oneness of Socrates close friends, urges Socrates to escape prison while he unsounded can. Crito offers several arguments to justify his escape, including the shame he w ould endure from the public for letting his friend die, and the poor example it would set for the children of Athens. However, Socrates carefully analyzes each of Critos arguments for escaping, and proves them hamper through logic and deductive reasoning. The passage, But my dear Crito, why should we pay so much attention to what most people think? The reasonable people, who have more claim to be considered, will believe that the facts are exactly as they are (906), demonstrates the method that Socrates uses to persuade. Socrates asks a rhetorical question to expose the vertigo of the Critos worries. It represents the wisdom and deterrent examples of Socrates. Critos strongest argument is that Socrates would be promoting injustice by accepting his unfair sentence. However, Socrates disproves this point as well, by reasoning that he would be harming the Law by escaping death. Socrates, who has tried to live his look as justly and peacefully as possible, would be breaking every mo ral he ever lived by if he chose to turn against the law. He regards the Law higher than his own life. He sees theLaw as a father to him it has raised him, improve him, and allowed him to live a comfortable life. No matter how much he disagrees with its ways, he cannot bring himself to disobey it.Throughout Socrates discussions, he often has conversations with himself and the Law. Plato personifies the Law by giving it human-like qualities and speech it is suggested that the Law can be hurt, and angry. He does this to distinguish it as a character that has feelings. For example, you will leave this place, when you do, as the victim of a wrong done not by us, the Laws, but by your fellow men. But if you leave in that dishonorable way, reaching wrong from wrong, and mephistophelean for evil, breaking your agreements with us, and injuring those whom you least ought to injure yourself, your country, and us ,- then you will face our anger (916), demonstrates the authority of the Law . Socrates suggests it is better to die a victim who has lived justly and killed unjustly, than to return the injustice and hurt the Laws. He states, it is never right to do a wrong or return a wrong or defend ones self against injury by retaliation (911), which exemplifies the picture that injustice cannot be treated with injustice. Socrates mentions an agreement being broken in this passage this alludes to the belief that there is a social contract between the individual and government. Socrates reasons that when a citizen lives in Athens, he is indirectly supporting the laws and abiding them. The individual has a moral obligation to the government. While it is beneficial to challenge the government under some circumstances, one threatens the foundation of a stable society by breaking its laws. Socrates, who has lived 70 years of Athenian life, is content by living in accordance with this contract. He feels a state simply cannot exist if laws have no power. He firmly believes in the importance of strict laws, as he calls them the most precious achievement of human history. Besides, he reasons that a man of his age, with little life left to live, would lose his reputation by clinging so greedily to life, at the price of violating the most stringent laws (915). For all these reasons, Crito remains an influential piece that poses gigantic questions and promotes critical thinking.