27 Facts About Crito

Crito is a dialogue that was written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.

In contemporary discussions, the meaning of Crito is debated to determine whether it is a plea for unconditional obedience to the laws of a society.

Crito'storians are not aware of the exact location of Socrates' cell but according to archaeologists, it is about 100 meters southwest of the Heliaia court, just outside the site of the agora.

Crito was a rich Athenian who like Socrates was from deme of Alopece.

In other dialogues, Crito is portrayed as a conventional Athenian who could not understand Socrates' philosophy despite his attempts to do so.

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Some have said Crito is part of Plato's middle dialogues, which are characterized by a Socrates who dismantled opposing arguments by asking questions and then pointing out the flaws in the opposition's theory.

Crito expresses concern at Socrates' relaxed attitude to his upcoming execution.

Crito has come to see Socrates because he has learned his execution will take place the next day, and wishes to rescue his friend.

Crito planned to bribe all of the guards who are part of the execution and assures Socrates he has enough money to see the plan through and that he has additional friends who are willing to pay.

Crito asserts that if Socrates is executed, Crito will suffer a personal misfortune through the loss of a great friend.

Crito says if Socrates is executed, his sons will be deprived of the privileges to which the sons of a philosopher would be entitled—a proper education and living conditions.

Finally, Crito argues that Socrates should not worry about the potential punishments that he and his conspirators could face as they feel that the risk is worth taking.

Crito compares such motivations to a person who sentences someone to death and then regrets the action.

However, Crito is never allowed to make this argument because Socrates cuts him off.

Crito would have to be content with a region like Thessaly, which was chaotic and disorganized, and where he could only entertain crowds with the story of his unjust escape.

Crito emphasizes reason, which it says should be the sole criterion for understanding ethics.

One of the most controversial issues raised by Crito is Socrates' legalist representation of the laws as a human being.

Crito's said although the dialogue's Crito is an old friend of Socrates and should have known Socratic ethics well, his reflections and reactions show he is not a philosophical man.

Weiss saw this as an indication Socrates only introduces the Laws after Crito has told him he could not follow Socrates' philosophical argument.

Italian historians of philosophy Mario Montuori and Giovanni Reale used chronological distance to explain this difference: that The Apology and the Crito were written at different times and for different reasons.

David Claus conducted a thorough survey of all mentions of and references to the soul in pre-Platonic Greek literature and concluded that Plato was the first to combine all the features of the soul into one concept, but that this conception of the soul did not take place in Plato's mind until the Laws; the absence of the soul from the Crito reflects the inchoate status of the soul at this point in Plato's intellectual development.

Roman philosopher and politician Cicero interpreted Crito to mean citizens are obliged to serve the state out of gratitude.

Athenaios said because Crito showed no philosophical ability, his inability to present a proper argument is to be expected.

Crito said Plato's Socrates founded the social contract in the manner of Whiggs and influences passive obedience as seen from the Tories.

Crito was esteemed by literary analysts including Paul Shorey, William Guthrie, and Thomas Alexander Szlezak, the last of whom said its "speech, argumentation and character are masterfully matched".

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Peter Sloterdijk said Crito is one of the "initial texts of philosophy par excellence" with which Plato founded "a new way of looking for the truth".

Crito was the defender of this world against the death of his master.