| Author |
Plato, 428? BCE-348? BCE |
| Translator |
Jowett, Benjamin, 1817-1893 |
| Title |
Crito
|
| Note |
Death of Socrates 2
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 73.5 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
|
| Credits |
This etext was prepared by Sue Asscher
|
| Summary |
"Crito" by Plato is a philosophical dialogue written in ancient times, specifically during the classical era of Greek philosophy. This text is a cornerstone of Western philosophy, illustrating the themes of justice, morality, and the social contract through the lens of Socrates' final days. The dialogue takes place in Socrates' prison cell, shortly before his death, and explores the moral implications of escaping from an unjust punishment. The book centers around a conversation between Socrates and his devoted friend Crito, who urges him to escape from prison to avoid execution. Crito presents various arguments, appealing to Socrates' concern for his family and friends, and the disgrace that would befall them if he allows himself to be unjustly punished. However, Socrates counters these arguments with a profound discussion on the nature of justice and the importance of adhering to one’s principles, even in the face of death. He emphasizes the significance of respecting the laws of the state, viewing them as a form of social contract. Socratic reasoning leads him to conclude that fleeing would violate his principles, ultimately leading him to accept his fate with dignity. The dialogue serves not only as a reflection on Socratic thought but also as a timeless exploration of the moral obligations of the individual to the society in which they live. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
|
| LoC Class |
PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature
|
| Subject |
Classical literature
|
| Subject |
Philosophy, Ancient
|
| Subject |
Justice -- Early works to 1800
|
| Subject |
Dialogues, Greek -- Translations into English
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1657 |
| Release Date |
Mar 1, 1999 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 31, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
680 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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