Analysis Of Socrates Argument Essay

First Argument Analysis Essay As Plato explains in his dialogue, Crito, Socrates is in prison on a death-sentence. While in prison, Crito, a friend of Socrates tries to convince him to escape prison and to escape the punishments. While Socrates listens to Crito’s side of the issue, he comes up with a moral argument for why it would be best to stay and accept the punishment of his sentence. In this paper, I will be proving that this argument is sound. Socrates’ main argument goes as follows. If Socrates escapes from jail and flees Athens, he will do harm to the city and the people there. But Socrates should not harm the city of Athens and the people there. Therefore, Socrates should not escape jail and flee Athens. Socrates points out a …show more content…
From the supporting sub-arguments that Socrates uses, it is clear to see that escaping jail and breaking the agreement would be harming Athens and the people there. If he stays and fulfills the sentence he won’t break any agreements or laws that he has made nor will he, through breaking the agreements, do harm or inflict wrong to the city of Athens or its …show more content…
He supports his argument by comparing the city of Athens to his parents. One should never harm one’s own parents because they have raised him, educated him, and protected him all his life. Through the laws of the city of Athens, Socrates was brought to birth by the marriage of his parents. Athens first allowed Socrates’ father to marry his mother and through that marriage Socrates was given a life in Athens. It was Socrates’ father who educated him in the arts and the physical culture but it couldn’t have been done without the city of Athens and its educational support. It was through the city of Athens and its laws that Socrates was nurtured and educated. In this, the laws of Athens suggest a relationship with Socrates that is similar to the relationship that he has with his father, or the relationship that a slave has to his master. In a relationship like this Socrates nor the slave has a right to retaliate if he is guilty of wrongdoing. The laws propose that one’s connection to one’s country are stronger than the ties to his own family. This implies that it is even more important to respect the laws of the state. Socrates compares the respect for parents and state to being in the war. When you are sent off to fight, you are willing to die for your country rather than to flee. In the same way that you are willing to suffer and die for your country because it is your duty, you must be