Plato's "The Crito"

Discussion Questions for Plato's The Crito

1. Crito argues that Socrates should go with him (escape) because otherwise 1) Crito would lose his friendship, 2) others will look down upon Crito because they will think Crito wasn’t willing to spend the money to free him, and 3) Socrates would be betraying his own sons by deserting them. What do you think of Crito’s arguments? What does Socrates think? How does he dispute Crito’s arguments?

2. Socrates uses a sports metaphor about either following the multitude or following someone with “knowledge” (pages 5-6). What do you think of his metaphor? Do you agree with him? How does someone figure out who has “knowledge?”

3. Socrates says (page 9): “Then one ought not return injustice for injustice or do ill to any man, no matter what one may suffer at their hands.” He says this because he says (page 8) “one must never do injustice”. Do you agree? Why or why not? If someone one takes action against an injustice that is put upon them, are they committing an injustice themselves?

4. On page 10, Socrates gets at the heart of the issue by saying that the “Laws” would say that the agreement was to “abide by such judgments as the City might render”. In effect he seems to be saying that you should abide by the judgment even if, in your opinion, their judgment represents injustice. Is this correct? Is this the “social contract” that the citizens have agree to? Why are why not?

5. Socrates envisions the “Laws” saying (page 11) that “Country is to be honored beyond mother or father… an angered Country must be reverenced and obeyed and given way to even an angered father…” Socrates seems to agree to this? Does Crito? Do you? Why or why not?

6. The “Laws” (to Socrates) could say that Socrates was free to leave at any time and yet he chose to stay, and even raise a family there. Does staying in a city or country imply that you should have obedience to the judgments of the city or country? Are there situations when you are justified in disobeying a law? What should be the role of individual moral judgment?

7. The dialogue between Socrates and Crito explores the tension between personal loyalty and allegiance to the state. What are the various perspectives? What are their implications?

8. The dialogue raises questions about the role of civil disobedience and the limits of obedience to the law. Under what circumstances, if any, do you believe it is justifiable to disobey or challenge unjust laws? Can you think of contemporary examples that align with or challenge Socrates’ viewpoints?

9. Does Socrates think that there are “higher laws” that just the government of a city or country? If you try to escape an injustice, are you following a “higher law”?

BONUS QUESTIONS!

10. What would Socrates think about Antigone and her decision to defy the law? What would Antigone say about Socrates?

11. In a prior reading, Rousseau argued for a “social contract” in which individuals basically trade “freedoms” for “protection.” Is this the same argument that Socrates uses when he personifies the “Laws” in his dialog with Crito?

12. If Gandhi or Martin Luther King were in Socrates’ position, what would they do?