Argumentative essay
If in the "Apology," Socrates appeared before the court with a deep sense of his own dignity, and even more arrogant, Plato’s "Crito" drew us Socrates who fully reconciled with domestic laws and seeks at all costs to obey them, even if they are used incorrectly.
The old friend and student of Socrates, Crito, sneaked into prison to Socrates, long waited for his awakening not to disturb his rest. He reported the sad news about the expected arrival of the ship from Delos, after which the death penalty of Socrates should follow. Socrates smiled when he heard this news.
According Crito, he and his friends would lose in the face of Socrates the closest friend. People will blame the wealthy Crito in his unwillingness to save Socrates. Socrates objecting to Crito points to the inability of the majority to make some great evil or great good, whereby Crito should not fear the opinions of people.
Crito said that he and his friends were not afraid of possible persecution by the authorities for the escape of Socrates. In addition, Crito promises Socrates a full security and even prosperity outside Athens; Socrates, according to Crito, not wanting to leave the prison, makes the same injustice as his enemies. He neglects his family and makes his children orphans, and even preaches a sort of virtue. Crito and all his friends will be accused of cowardice. The response of Socrates to these arguments is based, in his opinion, only on a "reasonable belief" and fearlessness before the omnipotent majority, despite any and threats.
Socrates argues that it is necessary to follow the opinion not of all people, but only some of them, namely reasonable people, ie the opinion of person who knows what justice is, in other words, it is necessary to follow the truth. Crito’s arguments are not based on the requirements of justice, but on the customs of the unprincipled majority. If the justice can not be violated, it is necessary to implement its requirements.
Socrates speaks with Crito allegedly on behalf of domestic laws. Under these laws, marriages are committed, education and training of citizens are carried out, and so the laws for the citizen are more important than even his parents.
The laws provide citizens the right not to obey them, offering to those who disagree with them, leave the country. Those who prefer to stay at home thus have already committed themselves to either obey its laws as their parents and caregivers, or affect the laws in the case of their imperfection.
Socrates, more than anyone else, proved his devotion to laws, preferring the homeland to foreign lands. In addition, he could to demand the expulsion instead of death on the court, which, however, he did not do. How can he now go against the laws?
The violation of the laws, moreover, will lead to repressions against the relatives of Socrates, to the fact that he will be branded as lawbreaker, to the unworthy upbringing of his children in a foreign country, to inability to properly live and propagate his philosophy in other countries, etc.
The arguments of the personified laws impact on Socrates, in his opinion, as the sounds of flutes of the orgiastic corybantes, and are represented him as unbreakable. Therefore, the arguments and persuasions of Crito are useless: Socrates refuses to escape.
References
Sue Asscher. (2005). Crito by Plato. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. http://www.fullbooks.com/Crito.html
