Crito and Socrates, Winston Churchill Leadership - Essay Example

Crito has made all the necessary arrangements for the escape and assures Socrates that there will be no problem in engineering his escape. His first premise is that by not escaping Socrates will be showing Crito and Socrates' other friends in a bad light because it will appear that they did not care enough about him and value money more than him. He also feels that it would be a shameful thing for Socrates to be publicly executed because he is no criminal. His other premise is that it is Socrates' right to escape, in fact, his duty since he has been unjustly accused and imprisoned.

Ans 2)Socrates had been imprisoned by the very people whom he was trying to help and educate. Although Socrates never believed that he was wise(one of his most famous quotes reflects this modesty) he had a method of cross-questioning that became very famous because it destroyed the arguments that men gave in response to the questions he put to them. Although Socrates became very popular amongst a very powerful segment of Athenian society his tendency to question everything including Athenian democracy won him the displeasure of many at the helm. According to an article written by Megan Worley, three figures were specifically important in bringing the charges against Socrates, these were Anytus, Meletus, and Lycon.

I think that both these men valued truth, dignity, awareness, and justice, however, Winston Churchill’s position as leader puts him in a decision where perhaps safety and victory for Britain is more important than truth and dignity. Although Socrates has developed a powerful following in Athens he does not have any nor does he seek any political power. He does not feel responsible for leading Athens and this in a way leaves him free to make what he believes to be the morally right decision something that perhaps Winston Churchill did not have.

Ans 4) Pathos ‘let me entreat you once more to take my advice and escape. For if you die I shall not only lose a friend who can never be replaced
Logos-‘Then, my friend, we must not regard what the many say of us: but what he, the one man who has an understanding of just and unjust, will say, and what the truth will say. And therefore you begin in error when you suggest that we should regard the opinion of the many about just and unjust, good and evil, honorable and dishonorable’
Ans 5) Crito draws this analogy when he compares the citizens of Athens to Socrates' children. He uses this analogy to indicate Socrates is important to the Athenians and also to stress the fact that Socrates has a responsibility as a parent to fulfill which is why he should not accept the unjust accusation and try and escape so he can continue his teaching.
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