Summary and Analysis of Plato’s Crito
Plato’s Crito starts off with Socrates in his jail cell, asleep, being watched by Crito. Crito does not wish to awake Socrates because he looked very peaceful while sleeping. Crito comes worried as he has found out that Socrates’ execution may be upon them because the ship from Delos will be arriving shortly. Socrates tells Crito that he does not believe that the ship will come in today but instead in three days because of a dream he had where a woman wearing a white dress came to him and said: “Socrates, you shall arrive in fertile Phthia on the third day.” (Pack, Plato, Woods 4).
Crito then expresses to Socrates that he will inherit a poor reputation because people will think that he could have spent the money to save Socrates when he is executed. Socrates then tells Crito to not care about the opinion of many but instead care about the opinion of the best people because they will believe what happened in the way that it did happen. Crito then tries to encourage Socrates to escape with him and that if he does not choose to escape with him then he is “betraying his sons” by abandoning them and not educating them, Crito also accuses Socrates of taking the lazy path. Socrates then addresses Crito’s previous claim that if Socrates dies the opinion of many will cause a poor reputation. Socrates tells Crito to not pay attention to what the many of people say but instead to listen to the people, even if it is just one person, who know about “just and unjust things.” Socrates explains that no one should ever repay an injustice with an injustice and that no one should cause harm. Socrates then says returning harm for harm is not just, so it is no different than doing an injustice. Crito agrees with and accepts this argument which leads Socrates to his next point. Socrates explains that if anyone were to see any issue with the laws of a city, then that person could leave because there are no laws that say you cannot. Socrates then adds whoever decides to stay in the city has made an agreement to follow the rules that are set forth and that he himself had the same opportunity to leave but instead he stayed and when he had the chance to choose being exiled he declined because he made an agreement to the city in which he lived. Crito has no objections to this and Socrates continues by saying that if he were to choose exile and move to a different city with Crito, he would be viewed differently and as a “destroyer of laws.” Socrates then says that he will be able to use this reasoning in defense against Hades and that he will treat him fairly, but if he were to escape and disobey the laws, Hades would not treat him favorably. Socrates asks Crito if he has any other objections to which Crito says he does not, and it seems as if Socrates has persuaded Crito on his decision to stay and to be executed.
In this analysis of Crito, I will demonstrate why Socrates’ arguments for choosing to not escape prison are good arguments. Socrates makes multiple arguments as to why he believes that his duties as an Athenian citizen preclude him from escaping prison.
Socrates’ first argument as to why he should not escape prison is because no man should ever act unjustly and that no one should repay an injustice with an injustice and that returning harm for harm is unjust because harming someone is no different than committing an injustice. (Pack, Plato, Woods 6). Therefore, if Socrates escapes, or leaves the prison without permission by the city, then he is acting unjustly because he is causing harm to the city and its laws. I believe that this is a very strong argument made by Socrates because if he were to leave the city without permission then he would be causing the city harm by acting unjustly, and as he mentions earlier, you should not repay an injustice with another injustice because if you do you are acting unjust.
Socrates’ second argument that he uses on Crito as a reason for why he should stay in prison and be executed, is because if a citizen has any issues with a law or rule in a city then they have every right to leave and nobody or any law can stop them from doing so. But Socrates also argues that anyone who decides to stay has made up their mind and has agreed to any rules that have been set forth and they must follow them. (Pack, Plato, Woods 8). This is another well thought out argument by Socrates. Socrates admits that he could very well have left if he didn’t agree with the rules, but since he decided to stay he had the responsibility of following the rules that he agreed upon. Since Socrates did not follow the rules that he agreed upon and did not leave when he still had the chance to do so, says to us that he understood what he did, and he accepts his punishment which is another reason why he refuses Crito’s plea for him to escape prison.
One last argument that Socrates makes in defense of his decision to stay in prison and face execution instead of escaping with Crito, is that he will be able to use his other arguments as evidence to Hades. When Socrates dies he believes he will encounter Hades, and if he displays to Hades how he chose to stay in prison and accept his punishment, Hades will treat him well. But, if Socrates were to escape prison, Hades will then treat him very unfavorably when he eventually encounters him. (Pack, Plato, Woods 10). This, like Socrates’ other two arguments, is strong. Socrates knows he did wrong, so instead of risking his afterlife, he will accept his punishment and hopefully receive a better life after death.
With all of Socrates’ arguments in mind it is reasonable to raise a question to some of his beliefs. For example, one may disagree with Socrates’ belief that he should stay in prison and not escape because like Crito, they may believe that since Socrates was treated unfairly by the court, it is okay for him to escape. But, although some may believe that two wrongs make a right, I side with Socrates’ belief that you cannot repay an injustice with another injustice because this can cause harm to many things including laws and the way the city operates. And although Socrates may have been treated unfairly, he passed up his opportunity to be exiled, so it was right for him to face the punishment.
In conclusion, one’s duties as citizens are as strong as Socrates claims. If one decides they do not agree with the laws set forth, then they should leave and go to a place where they agree with the laws. Therefore, if you stay in that city you must agree to follow the laws that you are expected to, and if you do not, you will face the punishment, which Socrates believes is the just thing to do. Lastly, I agree with Socrates’ claim that it is not just to repay harm with harm and in his scenario if he would escape prison that would cause harm to the city that raised and educated him. With evidence from all of Socrates’ arguments, I do agree with his claim that his duties as an Athenian citizen preclude him from escaping prison.