PHIL 111: Introduction to Philosophy

LARKIN: Spring 2003

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Plato, Crito

I. Set-Up: Socrates is sleeping peacefully in jail, Crito arrives very early because he is distraught. Socrates is at peace with what he has done and what is going to happen to him, while Crito is worried and upset.

II. Crito’s Case for Escape

A. It is feasible: Crito and other friends have the money needed to bribe jailers and arrange for escape, and Crito has friends in another city state where Socrates can go.

B. Public Opinion: The masses will look down on the friends of Socrates and think that they were not willing to put up money in order to save the life of their friend.

C. It is Unjust Not to Escape:

1. It will involve abandoning your children.

2. It is playing into the enemy’s hand—doing exactly what the unjust opposition wants.

III. Socrates’ Rebuttal

A. Just because something can be done does not mean that it should be done. We need to investigate and look for reasons. Only if there is sufficient reason/a good argument for escaping should it be done.

B. Public Opinion is totally irrelevant.

1. We should only pay attention to good opinions—bad opinions are likely to bring harm.

2. It is generally not the masses who have expert opinions but only the few.

3. So in this case we should only follow the opinion of those who are experts on or at least have thought sufficiently and logically about the issue, as the public is unlikely to have done.

C. It is Unjust to Escape

1. No harm to children: Even if I escape, children will be no better off than if I am put to death. For either they will be forced into exile with me or they will be left behind without me. In either case, they are no better off than if I am put to death. And anyway, my friends will take care of their well being.

2. The LAWS Arguments

a. Argument from Paternalism

P1: The State has been like a parent to me—taking care of my safety, needs, and education.

P2: We owe our parents our obedience.

C1: So I owe the State my obedience.

P3: It would be unjust to disregard what I owe.

C2: So it would be unjust to disobey the State by escaping.

b. Argument from Social Contract

P1: I entered freely into an agreement with the State—I would obey the laws if it took care of me. I could have left any time I wanted but I chose to stay.

P2: To disobey the State now and escape would be to break that contract.

P3: It is unjust to break a contract.

C: So it would be unjust of me to escape.