Crito's Final Argument

Death is the debt that all men pay. No matter who you are, how rich you are, or what you do for society; everyone dies. In the case of Socrates his death came from the ‘hand of justice’ from Athens. He should have been put to death after the trial, but Athens law prohibits execution on holidays, so Socrates waited in prison until a ship came into port. While there one of his friends, Crito, gave Socrates several reasons to stay alive and escape. Socrates doesn’t give in to Crito’s pleads, but I believed he should have, there would be so much more he could have given not only the Athenian society, but today’s society. Crito was very surprised how accepting Socrates was of death, and gave him three reasons to stay alive.

Crito’s first argument he gave Socrates was that if does not escapes he will hurt Crito and those close to Socrates. This is probably Crito’s weakest argument. “You see if you

But like most things he saved the best for last. His final argument to Socrates is one that even stumped him for a while. Crito’s final argument was what would happen to his children. “Is it that you want to live for your children’s sake, then, to bring them up and educate them” (71). I think that truly scared Socrates, the fact that he wouldn’t be able to see his children grow up. If it were me I would do anything in my power to see my children grow up. Socrates defense for this argument kind of ignores Crito’s point. “That, Crito… is what I seem to hear them saying, you may be sure. And, just like those Corybantes who think they are hearing flutes” (71). So instead of arguing Crito’s point he says is that what he is doing may be wrong but how he feels. Basically he does not have a strong enough come back and gives an argument where if someone like Meletus, Socrates would disprove him so fast. If I were Crito I would have ran back to Socrates’ house and grab his children and have them pled with their