Pleas of His Friend, Crito, to Escape

¶ … pleas of his friend, Crito, to escape from prison in the closing days of his trial Socrates presents the concept of the absolute and its relationship to civil justice (Grube). Although Socrates is convinced that he is personally innocent of the charges being leveled against him and is also assured that he could safely escape from prison, he still opts to remain imprison and to see the trial through to the end. Socrates views his escape from prison as being a wrong and as a violation of the public trust in that the public has proscribed that those facing trial should be imprisoned. He viewed this public decision to be an absolute that should not be violated. Even though he also viewed the charges being brought against him as being wrong he did not believe that two wrongs would make a right.

The arguments offered by Crito concern the opinions of the majority (Grube, p.47). What will the public think if Crito does not help Socrates to escape? What will they think about Socrates not being available to take care of his children? Socrates, however, refuses to believe that the opinion of the majority is irrelevant if it means sacrificing the ability or capacity to live a good life. For Socrates, the most important thing is not living but living a good life (Grube, p.51). This belief is fundamental to Socrates' philosophy and determines how he analyzes each of Crito's arguments.

For Socrates, escape is not an option. He believes that it is morally wrong to pay off the guards. To do so, in Socrates' view, would be to disrespect the laws of Athens and serve to destroy such laws. Laws, regardless of their validity, lose their strength if they are disobeyed by the citizens and a city without laws will soon cease to exist in the opinion of Socrates.

Socrates also believed that by escaping he would be causing harm to his self (Grube, p.51). He thought that this soul would be harmed because he broke his personal pledge to follow the laws of Athens and by escaping he would be breaking his personal pledge.

In disregarding Crito's advice, Socrates chose to honor his commitment to truth and morality even though it will cost him his life. Socrates believes that if he chose to escape as Crito suggests that such escape would be neither justifiable nor true. Although his family and friends would be happier if he escapes he would not be following the moral or justice code of the state where he had lived his entire life. On the other hand if he were to escape the other citizens of Athens would not be pleased and they may decide to take their frustrations and disappointment in him out on his family and friends. He believes that it is always wrong to break an agreement and that obeying the state is a requirement up until the very moment of death (Grube, p. 57).