The argument that those who benefit from the state and its laws have a duty to respect those laws even when doing so seems against their immediate self-interest is cogent, easy to grasp and is probably still accepted by most people today.
The idea that the citizens of a state, by living there, make an implicit covenant with the state, has also been tremendously influential and is a central tenet of social contract theory as well as popular immigration policies with respect to freedom of religion. Running through the whole dialog, though, one hears the same argument that Socrates gave to the jurors at his trial.
He is who he is: a philosopher engaged in the pursuit of truth and the cultivation of virtue. He is not going to change, regardless of what other people think of him or threaten to do to him.
His whole life exhibits a distinctive integrity, and he is determined that it will stay that way to the very end, even if it means staying in prison until his death. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
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Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Share Flipboard Email. Emrys Westacott. Professor of Philosophy. Emrys Westacott is a professor of philosophy at Alfred University.
He is the author or co-author of several books, including "Thinking Through Philosophy: An Introduction. Updated September 03, Thus, his influence lies not in a set of theories he advanced, but his method of approaching questions, and his unrelenting scrutiny.
The Crito finds him an old man of seventy, sitting in prison and awaiting execution. An old friend of Socrates, about his age. Like many of Plato's dialogues, the Crito takes its name from Socrates' primary interlocutor. Crito is a long-time follower of Socrates, and is deeply distraught at the prospect of Socrates' impending execution.
Crito, and some of Socrates' other friends, have pooled together their resources to arrange an escape for their friend and mentor.
Crito is willing to make almost any sacrifice to save Socrates' life. Socrates answers first that one should not worry about public opinion, but only listen to wise and expert advice. Crito should not worry about how his, Socrates', or others' reputations may fare in the general esteem: they should only concern themselves with behaving well.
The only question at hand is whether or not it would be just for Socrates to attempt an escape. If it is just, he will go with Crito, if it is unjust, he must remain in prison and face death. At this point, Socrates introduces the voice of the Laws of Athens, which speaks to him and explain why it would be unjust for him to leave his cell.
Since the Laws exist as one entity, to break one would be to break them all, and in doing so, Socrates would cause them great harm. The citizen is bound to the Laws like a child is bound to a parent, and so to go against the Laws would be like striking a parent. Rather than simply break the Laws and escape, Socrates should try to persuade the Laws to let him go.
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