"Crito" by Plato is a classic philosophical work that explores profound questions of justice, morality, and duty, through a conversation between Socrates and his loyal friend Crito as Socrates awaits execution. Crito desperately tries to persuade Socrates to escape, arguing that it is his moral obligation to save himself for the sake of his loved ones and to avoid the shame of unjust treatment. Socrates, however, uses his famed reasoning to examine whether escaping would be just, arguing that to do so would be to defy the laws of Athens, which he has implicitly agreed to uphold, even if those laws have unjustly condemned him. This pivotal conversation grapples with the conflict between personal desires and the social contract, presenting a timeless exploration of the individual's ethical responsibility to the state, ultimately showing Socrates' unwavering commitment to his principles as he chooses to accept his death.
Crito
By Plato
Faced with impending death, a wise man must decide between fleeing for his life or standing firm on his unwavering moral principles.
Summary
About the AuthorPlato, born Aristocles, was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a foundational thinker in Western philosophy and an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms. He raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, and was the founder of the Platonic Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.
Plato, born Aristocles, was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a foundational thinker in Western philosophy and an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms. He raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, and was the founder of the Platonic Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.
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