Socrates Choice And Crito's Argument

The Crito: Socrates’ Choice and Crito’s Argument
The Crito by Plato takes place in a prison cell the night before the execution of Socrates. His friend Crito visits him in the night with plans to sneak him out of prison and into hiding before morning. However, Socrates has come to terms with his death and refuses Crito’s offers, knowing that when he dies he will be judged for his choices on earth and must descend to the underworld having lived a life of justice.
Although Crito presents a tempting offer when trying to save Socrates from execution, Socrates is right to accept his sentence and deny offers of liberation. He knows it does not matter what the majority will say or think of his death, the only opinion of importance is that of the one who understands the actual truth, whom he will meet …show more content…
“But”, he responds to himself, “the majority can put us to death… And now examine this further one to see whether we think it still stands or not: the most important thing isn’t living, but living well… We should examine whether or not it would be just for me to try and get out of here when the Athenians haven’t acquitted me. And if it does seem just, we should make the attempt, and if it doesn’t, we should abandon the effort.” (Crito. 81-82.) With this possibility on the table, Socrates leads Crito in evaluation of his current situation asking: “...Whether the majority of people agree or not, and whether we must suffer still worse things than at present or ones that are easier to bear, it’s true, all the same, that doing injustice in any circumstances is bad and shameful for the one who does it?” (Crito. 82). Of course, Crito agrees that one should never do injustice to which Socrates replies, “Should one do the things one has agreed with someone to do, provided they are just, or should one cheat?” Once again, Crito immediately agrees, stating that one must stand by his just