What Is Socrates Argument against Crito - Essay Example

The school of thought here was that by doubting and disbelieving traditional gods, he was practicing impiety, and by teaching others the same, he was corrupting the youth in effect. Crito gets to the prison where Socrates was serving time with a plan hatched to break Socrates out of prison. It is after learning about this that a debate ensues on the justification of Socrates escape (Anton 73)

In his argument, Socrates fronts that while the sentencing he received was wrong, to begin with, it got reached through a legitimate process. In his thinking, Socrates was of the idea that the trial he got subjected to got done according to the law, he had the chance to defend himself against the allegations, and the verdict got passed by citizens. The matter at hand in this argument was whether content justice, which refers to getting the best result, overrules procedural justice that is following the laid down procedure, or vice versa (Anton 74).

Socrates states in his argument that we have to pick whether the law enabled social peace is more vital than an innocent man’s life. Socrates is of the idea that social peace, which gets enabled by the law, is superior to his innocence. In building his case, Socrates puts forward a paternalistic claim stating that since the laws enabled his dad to marry his mother, he considered the law as his parents. He also states that the laws ordered his parents to take him to school. As such, he is both a slave and offspring of law. Socrates feels that he owes the law similar unconditional obedience that slaves owe to their owners and children owe to their parents (Anton 75).

Socrates' conclusion is that injustice cannot be made right by another injustice. In this effect, the wrong conviction he had been given would not be made right by escaping prison. Socrates chooses to remain in the confines of his cell as a result of his unwavering belief and faith in Greek law, which he acknowledges awarded him the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life, and attain extensive knowledge (Anton 75). In his thinking, without the law, he would never have been able to achieve all which he did. His loyalty to Athens is like no other, and it is even prioritized before his own life. Socrates' intelligence becomes evident as he eventually persuades Crito to shift his thinking. He wins Crito over and his argument suffices (Anton 77).

Whereas Socrates' respect for the rule of law and procedural justice is to be admired, it is a fallacy of thought in my view. This is so because he is putting a justice tag on a process that started with great injustice. If a person is wrongly convicted in a court of law, no justification can be made to make the ruling right. Doing the time served not in any way have justified the wrongful conviction. However, his willingness to let the law prevail over his own life demonstrates the strong belief and dedication he has to the state. Read More