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Education theories of socrates
Philosophy of Socrates
Essay on the life and death of socrates
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Socrates was a one of the first philosophers and teachers known to Western philosophy. He lived in Athens Greece from 470 – 399 B.C. and is studied to this day because of his insights and understanding of the way people should live. Towards the end of his life, Socrates was accused of a myriad of crimes including criminal meddling and the corruption of the minds of the young. Eventually, Socrates was found guilty of his crimes and shortly after he was condemned to death. During the time of his incarceration, he was visited by a friend known as Crito to discuss the matter of his death in addition to the proposal of escape from prison. Crito initially believed that it would be in Socrates best interest to escape prison and live in exile instead of facing death. Socrates, however, had a different view on escape and chose not to flee. Instead, he faced his sentence and explained his reasoning to be what he believed was right. Escaping could have been feasible for a few different reasons including instances such as his children and the people that he taught. For the type of teacher that he was, his reasons for not escaping are understandable and respectable, and he believed that escaping was wrong. Since he believed it wrong, it was good that Socrates chose not to escape. Escaping would essentially nullify his teaching of morals and honor and his reasons for living.
Socrates had a few reasons for accepting his punishments and not escaping the death sentence that he was handed. In hopes to convince Socrates to escape prison, his friend Crito visited him in prison before he was put to death. Crito initially began pleading with Socrates to escape because he did not want to lose a friend and he was afraid that people would think that he...
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...dditionally, Socrates believed that escaping would show that the people who tried him and found him guilty that they had in fact done the right thing. This would further their assumptions that he was corrupting the minds of people by running away and disobeying the law. If he had escaped, he may have been invalidated and may not be as important historically as he is today. Whether or not it made an impact on Athens or the rest of the world, Socrates did what he believed was right for himself and for the people. I believe that Socrates did what was honorable at the time. His honor and incite in to the way that people should live has been carried on through history is proof that people still value his ideas and reasoning.
Works Cited
Rachels, James, and Stuart Rachels. The Truth about the World. Ed. Meredith Grant.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.
When he is questioned why he doesn’t want to attempt to escape his death, he states that he feels it is unjust to escape. Socrates did what he believed his job was, which was to enlighten the youth to the unjust ways of society. While the way he was punished for it was unjust, Socrates stated that he has lived a happy life, and if he can’t rightly persuade the Laws of Athens to change its mind and let him go, then he can accept that.
When Socrates was sentenced to death, his friend Crito offers to help him escape, but he refuse to escape. He explains to Crito that if he were to escape he would be running away his whole life. He would stay at Athens and comply with the sentence as set by Athens law and die for his cause. Another reason that he gave Crito for not escaping was that he was already death alive and that he was too old to be running away .
Socrates lived such a private life that it lead to the most important revelation of his entire life. He would go about his life doing nothing but self-examination. In examining his life so strenuously others would come to him to be taught, or to have their children be taught by Socrates. They would offer him money and he would refuse. They would do whatever they could to learn anything Socrates had to teach. What they did not know is that Socrates was not teaching anyone he was simply going about his usual life and people just happened to learn from it. This was also why Socrates was put on trial. He was brought up on two charges, one of impiety and the other of corrupting the youth. These two charges set the course for the last month of his life.
In Crito, Socrates is put into jail for an immoral doing and Crito, his good friend, wants to break him out of the prison, but Socrates states retaliation is not the answer. Why would we be held to death under the law if we did nothing wrong, even though we had a way out? This question occurs multiple times throughout the story but is never actually answered, it seems as if anyone in the world today would leave prison for a life outside the country if they have to flee. I believe he is sick of the world as he is so old in this age of time. Normal people only live to their thirties and this man is over seventy right now. Does the accused have the right to break the law if they never committed breaking the law in which they are accused of? This is a big controversy in this story and in real life. From my interpretation, he respects the law and does not want any guilt in his life for later on. He would rather die a happy man than have guilt running through his head the whole time if he gets out.
There are many instances in Plato's the Crito where Socrates gives reasons for himself to stay in Athens and face his death. Arguments range from that of him being too old to run, to the common response two wrongs don't make a right. The reason I intend to argue against is one Socrates expresses in regards to his obligations to the city he has lived in all his life, and thus the rules that he has subsequently followed throughout that time. In Athens just like any other city, one follows the rules that the respective city has laid down because he/she believes in those laws, or does not and keeps silent. In the stand Socrates takes, he argues that since he has lived in Athens all his life, he is required to stand his ground and take what's thrown his way, even if that punishment is death, "do you think you have the right to retaliation against your country and its laws?" (Crito, 53) Socrates was a master of words. It is easy to say that his intellect allowed him to make anyone see all sides of an argument. Even Crito at times is confused about his decision to free his friend, think that he is making the right decision, "or do you think it possible for a city not to be destroyed if the verdicts of its courts have no force but are nullified and set at naught by private individuals."(Crito, 52) Socrates’ words are very convincing, but what he is not thinking about is the fact that this whole predicament was not meant to be. Socrates was supposed to be in all ...
While many of Socrates arguments seem very logical, I have explored some of the exceptions to Socrates principles, which prove that it is not necessarily wrong for him to escape from the city. I would argue that both sides have committed wrongdoing, and because of this, it is completely acceptable for Socrates to escape from the city that used to enrich his upbringing.
...uments are completely different. Crito wants Socrates to escape because he doesn’t deserve to die because he did nothing wrong. Socrates argues back that if he escapes he will be breaking the law. Which is the thing that he is trying to uphold. Socrates believes that escaping will go against all the things he has been arguing and teaching the youth.
Socrates argues further that if he escapes to a well-governed city, like Thebes or Megara, he would surely be recognized and brought back (53b). He would then have to go to a disordered place, which Socrates does not even find life worth living in one of these places. His sons would either accompany him on his run away life style, or stay in Athens. His sons would be living in one of these places with him, and not experiencing Athens, which Socrates loves so much. If they stayed in Athens they would be seen as the father of a convict. Socrates wants his sons to stay in
Contrary to this widely accepted myth, I will try to demonstrate that Socrates' argument was erroneous, which made his decision less rational. In fact, had he decided to escape, his behavior would not have represented an unjust act. Although his argumentation and dialogue with Crito seem more like a moral sermon, his ...
He believed that if he escaped from prison, the whole state of Athens would believe he is guilty, and the charge of sentencing Socrates to his death was a correct judgment by the jury. If Socrates really did not believe he was guilty of what he was being accused of, then he should have left when he had the chance. There is no point obeying laws if you do not believe you are guilty of them, or you really could hurt the society and the state around you. Socrates could have run when he had the chance. It would have been a defiance of the laws of the state of Athens, but if he did not believe he was correctly accused of those crimes against him, he should not believe in the laws in the first place. Socrates should not have cared about what other people in the state of Athens thought of him, and he should have escaped that prison with his family and friends when he had the chance. They thought of Socrates as a great friend and a good father, he should have followed that and spent his last few years on Earth with his family and friends, not his last few days in a prison
Plato's "Crito" begins with Socrates in prison due to his sentence by his Athenian peers, he awakes to find Crito in his cell; Crito had bribed the guards to the prison. Crito then tries to convince Socrates to escape to Thessaly, where he can have a safe life. Socrates was not easily convinced as he believed that he should suffer his punishment even if it is unjust, wanting his death to be an example for the jurors and those of Athens. Crito pleas to Socrates with a number of arguments, standing against his enemies in Athens (politicians, craftsman, etc), for the
Socrates, according to Plato challenged the norms of society by questioning life and having others question it as well. He was labeled of “corrupting the youth” and for not believing in the Athenians gods. “Socrates is guilty of corrupting the young, and of not acknowledging the gods the city acknowledges, but new daimonic activities instead.” (The Apology, pp 654) Although, he was cast by being “corrupt”, Socrates had many followers that saw him as a wise man. Socrates trial was made up of thirty jurors, who were later known as “The Thirty.” The “Thirty” really wanted was to silence Socrates, rather than taking his life. However, Socrates did not want to disobey the laws, he did not want to be violated of his right to freedom of speech, nor did he did he want to be undermine his moral position. (The Apology, pp. 647) He stood against injustice acts several times while he was in counsel. “I was the sort...
In Socrates’ view, one must always keep promises, and if he were to escape, he would break a promise that he made to the state, and therefore he must remain
Socrates concern that breaking the law would make law ineffectual is a valid one, but Crito would argue a more global perspective on Socrates' escaping: what are the net effects of Socrates accepting his death sentence? It would be a misfortune for all his friends, any people that benefit from his teaching, and he would be leaving his sons prematurely (Crito, 44c). Though Crito doesn't develop this point further, it could be easily extended: no one “be...
“Crito” is a discussion between Socrates and his rich fellow Crito that took place in a cell of jail while Socrates was awaiting his execution. Crito was there to persuade Socrates for an escape from a jail and the discussion focused on deciding whether Socrates should escape the jail or not. Socrates used his traditional style of questioning and logic to conclude that it is unjust to escape from the jail and he has to follow the order by the law.