The Alleged Hypocrisy of Socrates

Paper Summary:

After reading the "Apology" and the "Crito," it appears that Socrates may be somewhat of a hypocrite. However, if one looks closely, this is not the case at all. This paper argues that Socrates does not contradict himself in these two works. Although, as the paper shows, the two texts do seem contradictory at first glance, a deeper look explains that, ultimately, Socrates insists that one should never betray what he believes is just. This is what the gods believe, he argues, and the beliefs of the gods should have precedence over laws. However, since the gods placed him in a situation where he was in the hands of the law, he willingly accepted his fate.

From the Paper:

"While it seems that Socrates goes against his original stance in the Crito, he actually remains true to his original argument. Socrates believed that it would be unjust for him to escape, even though he has been convicted wrongly on the ignorant verdict of the majority. He believes that his escape would be unjust because he would be doing an injustice against the state of Athens and its laws, making an exception of himself, if he were to escape his lawful killing, however unjust in itself. He has been condemned to death under the Laws of the State into which he was born and in which he has lived his entire life, and whose laws he promised to obey."

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