Socrates Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Socrates - Term Paper Example Therefore, he decided to take up his punishment and not attempt to escape. One argument that Socrates used in accepting his punishment was his contention that Athenian laws had a parental authority over the inhabitants of Athens. Sans these laws, Socrates as a man would not have been who he was and would not even have been born. "In the first place did we not bring you into existence? Your father married your mother by our aid and begot you" (Plato 53). It is through these laws that he was raised and trained for Greek life. Socrates claims that these laws, which possess the charges educations, were right to command their fathers to train their sons in gymnastics and music. He continues his argument by establishing that Athenian laws have a parental authority over Athenian citizens. Socrates claims, â€Å"since you were brought into the world and nurtured and educated by us, can you deny that you are a slave and child as your fathers were?† (Plato 53). Crito poses an ethical di lemma in one of his arguments that sought to convince Socrates to escape. He contends that if he stays, he will be helping his persecutors in unjustly harming hi, which would make his staying an unjust one. In addition, he was also abandoning his children to a fatherless future (Plato 51). Socrates argues against this by explaining to Crito the Athenian law and the way he viewed it as one entity. He contended that breaking of one of these laws amounted to breaking all laws; he explains that Athenian citizens are bound to law just as a child is bound to his father. He poses an almost metaphysical sort of social contract that, instead of breaking the law and escaping, he should argue his case rationally and hope he would be treated justly before the court. Socrates contends that he had been found guilty and was to be put to death. It was essential to see it as right and just because he had seen what the law had done until that point and it had been right and just. It was his belief th at if he broke the law, it would be unjust, and he would have failed in his duty. Socrates identity as an Athenian defined his personality, and he would never be welcomed in any other civilized society if he broke Athenian law. It was Socrates belief that if he should break the law of Athens, then the underworld would judge him harshly, losing his soul. This dialogue with Crito comes across like an ancient and Athenian propaganda for the city-state of Athens. Socrates assumes the position that he is the custodian of the law and the city of Athens. Socrates claims that he is not on talks that are equal footing with Athenian law, and he does not have the right to work against it through saving his own life and running away. In this dialogue, Socrates claims, â€Å"Is your wisdom such as not to realize that your country is to be honored more than your mother, your father, and all your ancestors, which it is more to be revered and sacred. It counts for more among the gods and sensible men that you must worship it, yield to it, and placate its anger more than your father’s?† (Plato 54). Therefore, practically, the argument put across by Socrates is that Athens is a sacred city that citizens must always obey and that the citizens must never leave it. In his dialogue with Crito, Crito attempts to convince him to go into exile, which Socrates refuses. He contends that he is too old and is not resentful of death, believing that he has no right to