Crito: A Critical Review

Analytical Essay # 3365

Literature > Greek and Roman
Philosophy > Ancient Greek

This paper examines Plato's Crito view on virtue and honor.

6,350 words () | 4 sources | 2001 | United States

Published on: Sep 15, 2003

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a critical look at Socrates and Crito in the Platonic document Crito emphasizing the points brought up by Socrates pertaining to justice and social contracts. It includes personal comments of the author and those of critics through the ages.

From the Paper:

"Socrates begins the inquiry by reiterating the fact that we must never act unjustly voluntarily. "Ought we never to act unjustly voluntarily? Or may we act unjustly in some ways, and not in others? Is it the case, as we have often agreed in former times, that it is never either good or honorable to act unjustly? Or have all our former conclusions been overturned in these few days; and did we at our age fail to recognize all along, when we were seriously conversing with each other, that we were no better than children? Is not what we used to say most certainly the truth, whether the multitude agrees with us or not? Is not acting unjustly evil and shameful in ever case, whether we incur a heavier or a lighter punishment as the consequence"? (Plato, 58)? This whole passage demonstrates Socrates? desire to do what is just and not what he wants to do. He knows that he would be doing something that he said he should never do, and does not want to be unjust by being a hypocrite. "