Crito

This short episode that chronologically follows Socrates' apology portrays Crito's attempt to get Socrates out of prison while the powers that be are on a religious pilgrimage in Delos. But Socrates being Socrates, he proves to his friend Crito how this action of breaking the law would not be justified (despite the fact that the law did not carry out justice to Socrates). It is more important to Socrates that he be just in the eyes of the law regardless of his circumstance. It's a great prompt for discussion: Would Socrates be justified for escaping his wrongful death and living in exile?

Taking place after the Apology, this short dialogue is of Socrates in prison, awaiting his death, when Crito, a friend of his comes to ask Socrates if he wishes to be freed, and escape from prison. Socrates argues against Crito's proposal, outlining that if he were to break a law, he would be admitting that he thinks of himself above the law, making him a hypocrite. This is a very brief dialogue, but very effective with how short it is. It explores what is the nature of justice between the citizen and their state. a proto-social-contract theory.

This story could almost be used as a 'trolley problem' question. "If you were imprisoned, would you escape if given the means?" I don't think it is as effective as the trolley problem, because show more the following effects of staying or escaping are not as clear as the trolley problem lays out.

I have been interested in exploring just war theory in relation to revolution, dissent and pacifism. So the Crito is giving me some ideas to chew on and play with as I struggle with a coherent and nonviolent system of justice.

Title: Crito
Series: Socratic Dialogue
Order:
Author/Editor: Plato
Note (Accolades):
Genre/Subject: Philosophy, Greek
Pages: 12
Owned/Platform: PDF
Excitement: 7
Rating: 7
How did I hear about it: Western Philosophical Canon
Finished: Yes
Read over the course of: A Day
Date Finished: Wed, Apr 23, 2025
Reason Finished: Pretty short, Just get your thoughts rolling about justice and government systems
Reason Dropped:
Expectations: Met
Pacing Feel: Too Short
Style: Academic
Worth My Time: Yes show less

Na véspera de sua execução, Crito visita Sócrates, oferecendo-lhe meios de escapar. O filósofo recusa, porque é racionalmente mais importante ser ético, e a alma assim ficará em boa forma, mesmo que o corpo pereça. Agora, por que cumprir com suas obrigações perante o estado? É verdade, Sócrates o ama, acima do erro da sentença daqueles que o governam atualmente, e o bom homem com ferro não fere. O senhor As Leis, de todo modo, que dara a vida social, permitindo a boa vida, a Sócrates, e portanto, ele com este senhor deveria mais que para com seus filhos, a se tornarem órfãos. Não é pelo desejo de morte da maioria portanto, que Sócrates aquiesce, pois deve-se sempre escutar os especialistas e não a mera opinião do show more povo ignaro. Entretanto, houve um acordo, imperativamente moral, anterior, para com a dignidade do estado... show less

This love of his city was.. inspiring. I never expected Socrates of all people to be a nationalist

ahora lo lei en la edicion de gredos y me parece fantastico, aun asi no muchas diferencias con respecto a la version de porrua, deberia quiza mirar parrafo por parrafo,

he aqui el bello espiritu de la ley y el contrato social, ademas ¿porque habriamos de hacer caso a lo que diga la muchedumbre?

Poetic and fervent in nature. It is such a shame that this breaks off in a fragment. Still, short and sweet.

Short, sweet, to the point- Socrates justifies his refusal to escape on potentially philosophically dubious grounds.