Arguments Based on Crito by Plato - Essay Example

Module Arguments based on Crito by Plato Crito came to Socrates with the idea of having him run away from his death by paying offthe guards. The idea that Crito had had the guards who owed him a favor look the other way and allow Socrates to save himself for the sake of both Crito and himself. The people knew that the two were friends, and they knew that corruption was an issue common amongst a majority of the officials in the then government. To this effect, Crito knew that if Socrates died, the society would think he valued money more than the life of his dear friend (Plato 51). The idea could have been a good one, but Socrates looked at it from another angle. He knew that the only way of making better amends was by making peace with himself rather than keep on running yet he was already past seventy years. He opined that the best thing for Crito was not to follow or care about the opinions of the many but to adhere to the law. Crito adamantly believes that the opinion of the many has led to the evils of the world, and the way Socrates was treated was a show enough that they were lost of good opinion (Ibid. 51). Agreeably, Socrates seems to think more about what will happen to him and his friends who are willing to risk their lives to have him get out jail. I believe that the best thing as Socrates notes is the adherence to the law. This is something that many do not agree with because corruption has infiltrated many authoritative figures, and the best way of making sure that justice is not served is by offering a little money to achieve personal goals. This also fails to achieve the notable aspects of the society that could allow the world to make better changes and allow the rule of law to take more precedence in dealing with issues within the society. The reflection given by Socrates against Crito is that the wise will always make peace within and not fear what the majority think or feel. They will do anything that is within the law even it if is unjust and may lead to death. Socrates holds on morals that Crito seems to question, but agrees that Socrates is truthful in many of the issues discussed. Socrates wisely listens to what Crito has to say and makes choices based on his volition. He sees the plot as very tempting, but also recognizes the fact that the greater the zeal, the greater the danger (Ibid. 53). He knows that if the plan backfires, many more will be put to hang, and that would make lesser sense. He knows that his mistakes should not be placed on a platform that frightens the rest of the society but which define the fairest way of regarding others based on principles. Socrates understands that the plot that Crito and his friends have of letting him escape may be ideal, but he thinks of it as an evil that will keep reoccurring in the days he will live after the escape because as he mentions, it would be unworthy to live having an evil and corrupted body (Ibid. 54). Principle, by Socrates implication, is more worthy of having compared to the corrupt body, and since one cannot live with a corrupt body, living with corrupted principles would make it even harder to exist. The best way of looking at it is by examining the growing need for the use of principles while at the same time creating new methods of handling growing principle issues, hence the need to maintain a virtuous life. I agree with Socrates objection and analogy used to question the aspect of Crito transferring him to Thessaly where he will not be disturbed by anyone. The acts of justice and injustice that many do not seek to retain are at the top of Socrates mind because he thinks of it as the ideal platform for one to deal with issues that regard the usage of the law. The adherence t the law has been an issue that many fail to honor, yet plays the biggest part in maintaining a strict code of conduct amongst the members of any society. I believe that the best way of making the Socrates argument where he objects the escape based on principle is that every man has a conscience he ought to protect. By working on his peace, he seems convinced that the justice given, whether by evil men or women is ideal for the decisions that come sources of authority. The only problem is when good men like Crito seem to have the system play according to their rules rather than look for ways of making things streamlined to save innocent people from facing unjust systems. On matters of principle, it is important to look at the pros and cons of escaping, and the harm caused by Socrates’ escape will be more expensive than his death. Abiding by the sentence allows for the greater realization of the goals that humans possess, making it easier to deal with issues as they arise, especially concerning the morality of actions that take place within the state. Socrates objects to running from prison because he will be going against the law he vowed to protect and abide with as long as he was a citizen of Athens. He knew that the only way of making better choices was by making better decisions that would not place him in jeopardy. He argues that the being honest to one’s self is one of the best ways of making the right decision and dealing with any rhetoric that could damage one’s reputation if the contrary option was taken rather than the right one (Ibid. 56). Socrates argues that if one cannot do violence to his parents who were commissioned by the state to affirm their marriage legally, then going against the state would be a crime because everyone is a child and slave to the state (Ibid. 57). The argument is that the society has made its decisions and requires that everyone to make the same decisions in allowing them to make headway in dealing with issues taking place at home. The problem with this is the fact that everyone has to follow the rules no matter how unjust these seem because they have made the state as strong as it is. By looking at the arguments made by Socrates, the role of the rules and regulations in place are to safeguard the integrity of the state. In meeting these goals, it is always good to make sure that the virtues proposed are considered as the guidelines for working on what is ideal in the society. This also implies making better choices to meet the core attributes that define the way things are considered within the society. Socrates will diminish his status in the society if he is captured after his escape, and he will receive a harsher punishment before he is killed. Though Crito can argue that his transfer from Athens will bring him peace, his conscious cannot receive a similar assurance. Safeguarding one’s conscience will be a better way of defining the growth of the society based on what the society believes to be ideal for generating more strength for the realization of a better society. Socrates was right to ignore the counsel given by Crito because it would go against the ideals he embodied as a critical thinker and a citizen of Athens. Clearly, the only way of making the right judgment is by looking at what stands to gain morally, and the losses incurred in relation to the society and the mind. Work Cited Plato. Crito. P.50-60 Read More