Crito - Response to Socrates

Crito - Response to Socrates If Socrates had lived, he would have done great good. He could have continued to educate; he could have continued to spread his wisdom to adults and children alike? Would Socrates' escaping death have been for the greater good? Not in his mind. Instead, Socrates argues that the good is good in whatever circumstance, and that good must always be done. Further, he suggests that citizens are the creations, and even slaves, of government.

Defying government, he argues, would destroy it, and because Socrates argues that humans are not equal with government, it has a right to destroy him, while he does not have a right to destroy it. Government is the overarching structure through which populations are managed. That is, a government must provide a framework for its citizens, organizing their lives to sustain both the lives of its citizens and its own existence. The reasoning behind government is that, without it, chaos would ensue.

Governments apply some common ground to the lives of diverse peoples. Political, economic, social, and foreign policy variables, are present in some but not all forms of government. Based on Socrates' argument and this definition of government, I disagree with his reasoning for three main reasons -- Socrates' assumes that governments play a social role in the lives of their citizens, that citizens' agree with government's role, and that government is a higher authority than its citizens.

First, Socrates' argument that governments play a social role in citizens' lives is not true for all governments. Socrates Suggests that government, law, or the state is the institution through which parents are married and children born. Furthermore, Socrates states that it is the government or law is responsible for citizens' education. Thus, Socrates defines a social government, a government that is not simply tasked with the responsibilities of legal affairs, foreign policy, and the maintenance of common areas.

Instead, it is a government that creates and maintains its social base. But Socrates does not address types of government that do not concern themselves with the social welfare of their people. In this type of a government, then, citizens should feel no obligation to obey in any circumstance. Also, not everyone chooses to take advantage of the social services that the government offers. For example, some people choose to have a religious marriage, but not a legal one. Some choose not to enter a legal union at all.

While some people are educated through the state, others are homes schooled or go to private schools. Thus, I do not agree with Socrates' argument that citizens should always obey their governments because I believe that some governments do not provide for their citizens, while other citizens choose other institutions to provide for their social needs. Second, Socrates' own happiness with his government is certainly not shared by all citizens of every government.

When the law asks Socrates whether or not he has any complaint to make regarding the state's role in his life so far, Socrates replies that he has none. He has to qualm with the way in which the government has created him -- through his parents marriage -- or educated him. The law replies that since Socrates has to complaint in this area, he must not have a complaint in the area of his death.

Many, however, do have issue with the way that the government has played its role in their social lives. Some suggest that the government has even set them up for failure by providing poor schools, limited housing, and no job opportunities. Therefore, I do not agree with Socrates' argument that suggests citizens should obey their governments because of their previous use of government social services and lack of complaint, as many, including myself, have complaints of the government's role.

Third and Finally, Socrates' argument that the government is a higher authority than its citizens is false. Socrates suggests that citizens are a slave or child to the government that has created and raised them. But.