The Crito Written by Plato

Crito

In "The Crito" written by Plato, the philosopher, Socrates, has been accused by

the state of Athens and sentenced to death for his teachings that they thought were questionable.

Socrates does not argue about his sentence but agrees with it, he chooses to die because

he wants to do what he believes is right by not by not betraying the state and breaking his

implied contract.

Socrates said that one must listen to the few and not the many. The reason being is that he

always believed that the few had more knowledge and understanding than the many did. By

saying "the few" Socrates is referring to the state of Athens, he trusts their judgment because he

knows that the state knows the truth and will do what is right, "the many" on the other hand is

Crito and everybody else that wants Socrates to escape. They have the ability as well as the

power to accomplish the task of helping Socrates to break out, regardless Socrates will stick to

his decision.

Living the good life is something everyone wants to experience. Socrates was living the

good life and he was not about to throw it all out the window by escaping his prison. He lived

just and honorable by always doing the right things as well as staying true to himself. By

escaping he would fulfill the wishes of Crito and all of his followers who wish for his freedom,

but by doing that Socrates would be letting himself down by turning his back on all of his beliefs

and put a blemish on his good life.

Socrates believed that life is not worth living if the soul is corrupted. Having a soul that is

corrupted is a lot like not living at all, the physical body would turn evil and the higher part of

the man, his soul, would be destroyed. Socrates would rather die than to live having a corrupted

soul because not matter what, he would be dead in one way or another whether it be spiritually or

physically.

It is said that and eye for an eye will never solve anything, in Socrates case the same rule

applies to him. He believes that warding off evil with evil was not the way to go, by escaping the

prison he is causing an evil by breaking the law to solve another evil which is his death sentence

given to him by the Athenians. For the many if Socrates escapes that would be a great for them,

but in his mind he knows that it is wrong and he will end up doing evil to the Athenians.

The relationship that Socrates has with the gods plays a big part in his choice of dying

honorably. He knew that there was more than just the life that he is living right now, Socrates

believed in the afterlife and that it was where the higher authorities were, the people that will

judge him for the rest of his life. Everyone will eventually meet his or her maker and Socrates