Socrates Vs Crito Analysis

It is often for one to urge the survival of another, whether it be of their own interest or the betterment of the other. Shortly before his execution by the Athenian senate, Socrates was approached by lifelong friend Crito who urged him to escape into exile than suffer execution. Plato transcribed the dialogue between the two men; Socrates describing his lifelong duty to uphold the social contract and Crito stressing the importance of morality above all else. Despite history recording Socrates staying and executed, his reasons for doing so, despite Crito’s urging, stands in the right. One may question why Socrates would willing submit himself to execution despite knowing the trail was a symptom of political squabble. At the time, the senate of Athens was under scrutiny and public pressure following Athens’ crushing defeat at the hands of the Spartans during the Peloponnesian war. Crito, the lifelong friend of Socrates, confirmed there was opposition to the senate’s verdict within Athens and other Greek city-state:

“…there are those strangers here ready to spend money. One of them, Simmias the Theban, has brought enough for this very purpose. Cebes, too, and a good

Here, Socrates is not stating this purely for sake of upholding law, but there is a fair amount of foresight. He was well known and respected by the public and other city states as a philosopher and teacher. Crito confirmed there was opposition to the senate verdict, and therefore his death would only bring them under greater scrutiny. But if he Socrates escaped, he would have blatantly broken the law, allowing the senate to justify their claims against him or at the very least weaken his support. Additionally, having upheld the law, the social contract, for his entire life, breaking it would be a betrayal to his own