God's Law and Man's Law
Rachel Rudd
Dr.Andrew Jacobs
GB 13000
July 12th 2018
God’s law and man’s law
In “Crito” by Plato, it is clear to readers that Socrates holds the authority and law of the State in the highest regard. Facing a death sentence and wrongful imprisonment, Socrates would rather die with a clean conscience than live with a stained one. Socrates explains that if he tried to escape from prison, the consequences would be significant and far reaching. He describes what he thinks the judges and the State would say about his escape. Proven by Socrates in his talks with Crito, obeying the laws, doing what one believes is right and the good of the country, are all more important than self protection.
As Crito tries to convince Socrates to escape his fate, Socrates ends up proving to Crito that, he should stay and accept it. However, Socrates does not want Crito to hate him for his decision, so he talks to Crito and explains why he wants to accept this fate. He tells Crito “stop telling me I ought to leave this place without official permission” (Plato 57). This statement shows he clearly knows it is wrong for him to escape and is willing to stay imprisoned unless the law allows him to be freed. But he also says, “I am very anxious to obtain your approval before I adopt the course which I have in mind” (Plato 57). With this statement, it’s clear that, Socrates wants Crito to be on his side and to understand his choices. Although Socrates knows he will die, he is still sure his choice is the proper one. He says that “to do wrong is in every sense bad and dishonorable” (Plato 58), which makes it very clear he refuses to go against his sentence and will not try to escape, even though it means his death.
Socrates gives us a prime example of standing firm in your beliefs. He cared about his morals and his values so much that, he would lay down his life to uphold them. He states that “there is no sense in which wrongdoing is good or honorable” (Plato 58). Socrates makes it clear to Crito that he believes that it is better to obey the law and die unlawfully judged than to break the law and live out his last days as a criminal on the run. Socrates says that “law which enacts judgments once pronounced, shall be binding”(Plato 60), which shows us he knows that whatever judgment the law passes must be accepted. Socrates knew the importance of the State and the law, and he knew that people need to have laws and rules to guide us and lead us. We should accept these rules and uphold them the best way we can. Just like we should set morals and goals for ourselves. Socrates set an example for all of us to follow, saying that “your country is something far more precious, more venerable, and more sacred both among gods and among all reasonable men” (Plato 61). Socrates is showing readers that, we have a higher calling in life and we should not just be looking out for the good of ourselves.
Socrates believed that dying as a martyr for what he believed in was better than living out the rest of his days as a fugitive of the law. Also if he had ran away, he would not be able to communicate with others as he would like, making his life pointless. He says “with only a short time to live, should I dare to cling so greedily to life, at the price of violating the most stringent laws?” (Plato 65). If he had ran and became a common criminal on the run, no one would listen to his teachings anymore. Although Socrates was a great teacher,nobody would want to be taught by a criminal on the run. Socrates knew he was an older man and he knew it would be better for him to die guilt free than to escape and become a criminal. He proved his point by making the ultimate sacrifice and by showing that he was indeed not a criminal as the law tried to claim. As Socrates explains why he will not try to escape his death, he tells Crito what he believes the guardians of the next life would say about him if he did escape. “It seems clear if you do this thing you would not be better off nor would you have a cleaner conscience here in this world, nor will it be better when you reach the next” (Plato 65). By stating this Socrates makes it clear that if he runs from the law not only will he suffer because of it while he lives, but his soul will also suffer because of it when he dies. This teaches readers that we have consequences for our actions not only in this life, but also in the eternal life after.
Crito Stops trying to get Socrates to escape in the end, because he can now see how the eternal would react to this. However, Crito is still distraught about losing his dear friend, but he knows it has to be this way. Socrates gives us an extraordinary example of character and virtue, even to his death. Socrates shows us that we are not the most important part of the world, that we are simply a small part of a much larger plan. With his last line in this excerpt Socrates says “Let us follow this course,since God points out the way” (Plato 66), teaching readers that just because we do not fully understand a situation, we have to put our faith in God, just as Socrates and Crito eventually decide to do. Socrates shows that standing firm in truth is important, and that while we all should value our lives, we need to realize we do not control everything that happens to us. We all need to accept an authority that is higher than our own, both the country’s laws and God's plan for us. Socrates showed us exactly what it means to hold both the eternal law and the country’s law above everything else in our lives, living in complete submission.
Works Cited
Plato. “Crito”, Introduction to Great Books. Great Books Foundation, 1990
Dr.Andrew Jacobs
GB 13000
July 12th 2018
God’s law and man’s law
In “Crito” by Plato, it is clear to readers that Socrates holds the authority and law of the State in the highest regard. Facing a death sentence and wrongful imprisonment, Socrates would rather die with a clean conscience than live with a stained one. Socrates explains that if he tried to escape from prison, the consequences would be significant and far reaching. He describes what he thinks the judges and the State would say about his escape. Proven by Socrates in his talks with Crito, obeying the laws, doing what one believes is right and the good of the country, are all more important than self protection.
As Crito tries to convince Socrates to escape his fate, Socrates ends up proving to Crito that, he should stay and accept it. However, Socrates does not want Crito to hate him for his decision, so he talks to Crito and explains why he wants to accept this fate. He tells Crito “stop telling me I ought to leave this place without official permission” (Plato 57). This statement shows he clearly knows it is wrong for him to escape and is willing to stay imprisoned unless the law allows him to be freed. But he also says, “I am very anxious to obtain your approval before I adopt the course which I have in mind” (Plato 57). With this statement, it’s clear that, Socrates wants Crito to be on his side and to understand his choices. Although Socrates knows he will die, he is still sure his choice is the proper one. He says that “to do wrong is in every sense bad and dishonorable” (Plato 58), which makes it very clear he refuses to go against his sentence and will not try to escape, even though it means his death.
Socrates gives us a prime example of standing firm in your beliefs. He cared about his morals and his values so much that, he would lay down his life to uphold them. He states that “there is no sense in which wrongdoing is good or honorable” (Plato 58). Socrates makes it clear to Crito that he believes that it is better to obey the law and die unlawfully judged than to break the law and live out his last days as a criminal on the run. Socrates says that “law which enacts judgments once pronounced, shall be binding”(Plato 60), which shows us he knows that whatever judgment the law passes must be accepted. Socrates knew the importance of the State and the law, and he knew that people need to have laws and rules to guide us and lead us. We should accept these rules and uphold them the best way we can. Just like we should set morals and goals for ourselves. Socrates set an example for all of us to follow, saying that “your country is something far more precious, more venerable, and more sacred both among gods and among all reasonable men” (Plato 61). Socrates is showing readers that, we have a higher calling in life and we should not just be looking out for the good of ourselves.
Socrates believed that dying as a martyr for what he believed in was better than living out the rest of his days as a fugitive of the law. Also if he had ran away, he would not be able to communicate with others as he would like, making his life pointless. He says “with only a short time to live, should I dare to cling so greedily to life, at the price of violating the most stringent laws?” (Plato 65). If he had ran and became a common criminal on the run, no one would listen to his teachings anymore. Although Socrates was a great teacher,nobody would want to be taught by a criminal on the run. Socrates knew he was an older man and he knew it would be better for him to die guilt free than to escape and become a criminal. He proved his point by making the ultimate sacrifice and by showing that he was indeed not a criminal as the law tried to claim. As Socrates explains why he will not try to escape his death, he tells Crito what he believes the guardians of the next life would say about him if he did escape. “It seems clear if you do this thing you would not be better off nor would you have a cleaner conscience here in this world, nor will it be better when you reach the next” (Plato 65). By stating this Socrates makes it clear that if he runs from the law not only will he suffer because of it while he lives, but his soul will also suffer because of it when he dies. This teaches readers that we have consequences for our actions not only in this life, but also in the eternal life after.
Crito Stops trying to get Socrates to escape in the end, because he can now see how the eternal would react to this. However, Crito is still distraught about losing his dear friend, but he knows it has to be this way. Socrates gives us an extraordinary example of character and virtue, even to his death. Socrates shows us that we are not the most important part of the world, that we are simply a small part of a much larger plan. With his last line in this excerpt Socrates says “Let us follow this course,since God points out the way” (Plato 66), teaching readers that just because we do not fully understand a situation, we have to put our faith in God, just as Socrates and Crito eventually decide to do. Socrates shows that standing firm in truth is important, and that while we all should value our lives, we need to realize we do not control everything that happens to us. We all need to accept an authority that is higher than our own, both the country’s laws and God's plan for us. Socrates showed us exactly what it means to hold both the eternal law and the country’s law above everything else in our lives, living in complete submission.
Works Cited
Plato. “Crito”, Introduction to Great Books. Great Books Foundation, 1990
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