Plato's Crito
(Click this link to download and read my simplified version of Plato's Crito (word document) )
Plato’s Crito is a Socratic dialogue written before the execution of Socrates. His friend, Crito has arrived at the prison in the early hours of the morning, and is trying to persuade Socrates to escape. Armed with a variety of reasons to win over the well-loved public speaker, who has been accused of corrupting the youth and slighting Athenian law, Crito urges Socrates to listen to his plea. However, Crito’s words are in vain, for Socrates already knows the answer.
Areas explored in the Crito are:
The meaning of a ‘good’ life.
Examples of justice and injustice.
The matter of true opinion.
The key concept used throughout the dialogue is opinion. The matter concerns which opinion is true, which is false, which is right and which is wrong abiding to the principles of good and just.
The dialogue can be broken down into the following:
Crito asks Socrates to escape, as the opinion of the many and the ‘good’ believe he should do so. Crito starts by explaining he doesn’t want others to think he didn’t try to help if Socrates’ refuses.
Socrates responds that those who know the truth are the only opinions worth considering.
Crito states that the opinion of the many and of the ‘evil’ are worth considering too, for they have power. He states there is money available and places Socrates can escape too for sanctuary.
Socrates states he cannot go for he can only act on reason alone and principles he has held his entire life. He gives the example of a trainer and a gymnast, and concludes with Crito that the gymnast should only obey one man, his trainer, instead of the many in order to live a just and good life and not corrupt his body. Therefore, the only opinion which matters for the gymnast is the opinion of one, the truth; “thus what the truth will say”. This is the true opinion.
Crito agrees he is wrong about his claim of stating the many hold the principle of what is right and wrong, just and injust.
Socrates states a good life is equal to a just and honorable one. He then asks Crito whether we ought to do wrong, or if doing wrong is always evil. If we intentionally harm another, Socrates claims this is always injust, and Crito agrees. He then says we must always do what we think is right, to which Crito also agrees. Therefore, Socrates should not escape prison, for may harm others in doing so and should not retaliate by wronging those who have wronged him.
Plato then explores the opposing argument, that of the judges who sentenced him to death themselves. He makes valid points by impersonating them, pointing out that the very same law allowed him to be brought into the world, and that he has been offered the same good opportunities as everyone else in the state. He could have left the state whenever he wished to if he was displeased, but he continued (in their eyes) to corrupt the law despite making an oath to abide by them. If he chose to escape, he would abandon his values, and most likely live a tarnished life of a runaway, dangerous his friends remaining in the city.
Crito leaves, with nothing else to say.
Socrates draws the line between true opinion and the opinion of the many. Just because a majority of people believe something to be right, it doesn’t mean that it actually is. Socrates shouldn’t escape because he has been wronged by the law, for injuring those who have injured him is unjust. Rather, Socrates uses his reason, he will do less harm to those around him if he accepts his sentence. Socrates refuses to abandon his principles, even in death. These principles enable him to live a just and a good* life.
In summary, the true opinion is always the right opinion, whether it is shared or not.
*When referring to the term ‘good’ in a Philosophical context, I like to view the term as either being subjective or objective. Good, in a regular context, is usually an adjective that can be used to describe an exclusive feeling, e.g. “that was good!”. It’s important to remember Socrates is referring to a greater good, an objective good, a functional goal of approval (often otherworldly in this context). A good life is equal to a just state of mind, where we act on reason in order to flourish (e.g. Aristotle's eudaimonia). This is a goal in life in Ancient Greek Philosophy in being ‘at one’ with the Gods.