Crito

1
Crito

• Philosophy 21
• Fall, 2004
• G. J. Mattey

2
Escape?

• Socrates will be executed in two or three days
  unless Crito and his other friends arrange his
  escape and exile from Athens
• Money is no object, and he can take refuge in
  Thessaly
• Crito says he would be thought shameful by the
  majority if he did not help Socrates when he had
  the means
• He is willing to run the risk of reprisal

3
Who is to Judge?

• Crito claims that the opinion of the majority is
  important, as they can do great harm
• Socrates disagrees
• We should pay more attention to the opinions of
  reasonable people
• The majority can do no great harm because they
  can do no great good, since they cannot make a
  person foolish or wise, but only inflict things
  haphazardly

4
Justice?

• Crito says it would not be just for Socrates not
  to save himself as his enemies wish
• He is betraying his sons, whom he could educate
• Someone who is not committed to his childrens
  well-being should not have them
• Socrates is choosing the easiest path, not the
  path that the courageous man, concerned with
  virtue, would choose
• He is also making his friends look bad for not
  allowing them to save him

5
Expertise

• One should value the opinion of one who has
  knowledge over that of the many
• The professional athlete should most value the
  opinion of the doctor or trainer
• If he does not, he will suffer harm
• This holds for all other matters, especially
  those regarding justice, shame, and good
• Life is not worth living for us if we are
  corrupted by unjust actions

6
The Good Life

• Still, the majority can put one to death
• But the most important thing is not life itself,
  but the good life, which is also the beautiful
  and just life
• So the issue of escape turns on whether it is a
  just act, not what the majority would think about
  it

7
Two Wrongs

• The issue is not the consequences of escaping or
  not, but of its justice
• To do wrong willingly is always harmful and
  shameful to the wrongdoer
• So, one must never answer a wrong act with a
  wrong act
• There is no common ground between those who
  disagree on this point

8
Contract

• If two people make a just agreement, they should
  fulfill it
• Leaving Athens would be an abrogation of an
  agreement that would harm the other party
• The laws of the city would be undermined if the
  verdicts of its courts have no force

9
The Laws

• Law must be followed, whether it is justly or
  unjustly applied
• Socrates has been the beneficiary of the laws
• He was born, raised, and educated in the city
• So it would be unjust to turn against its laws
• It is more impious to bring violence against the
  city than to do so against ones parents

10
The Choices

• The laws of Athens allow a citizen to leave
  freely with is property
• To stay is to make a tacit agreement to obey the
  laws of the city
• The laws are not oppressive it is open to
  Socrates to argue for better ones
• Socrates above all has made a strong agreement
  with the city

11
Consequences

• If Socrates escapes, bad things will happen
• His friends will be in danger of many harms
• He will be received as an enemy of law
• If he finds an outlaw state, his life will not be
  worth living
• His conviction will be vindicated
• He will be disgraced
• On the other hand, no harm will come to his
  children, as his friends will look after them

12
The Decision

• Crito must agree with Socratess argument on
  behalf of the laws of Athens
• He recognizes that facing death is the best
  choice
• Socrates concludes that he is led to this
  decision by the god