Socrates

Paper Summary:

The paper states that within the "Apology" and the "Crito" several points of extreme importance to Socrates are outlined regarding the nature of civic duty. Some have said that the two works contradict one another in that in the "Apology", Socrates states that he would break the law if there were a law made that said he could no longer practice philosophy and in the "Crito" he outlines the dire responsibility to uphold the laws of the state, and in this case allow himself to be put to death, rather than fleeing. This paper argues that there is no contradiction in the messages of Socrates, as he is consistently alluding to the idea that the laws, though just, are being applied unjustly, in his conviction.

From the Paper:

"Socrates, believes that his responsibility to Athens, and to god is to maintain the calling set for him, he does not say he would break the law if he was to be given the option of leaving the court never to practice philosophy again, he says he would rather die than live a life contrary to God by not practicing philosophy for the betterment of the world, and of Athens. In other words, his honor is to serve God and Athens and accepting such a sentence would be contrary to both. 'Wherever a man has taken up a position because he considers it best, or has been posted there by his commander, that is where I believe he should remain, steadfast in danger, taking no account at all of death or of anything else rather than dishonor." (p. 380) Socrates believes that the people who are accusing and convicting him in his trial are abandoning the truth and therefore living contrary to God and to the state of their own souls."

More papers on Socrates:

• Term Paper # 135758 : "The Guilt of Socrates"
• Essay # 86562 : "Plato and Socrates"
• Essay # 6193 : "Socrates and the Concept of Justice"
• Analytical Essay # 86480 : "Socrates and Plato's 'The Apology'"

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