Michelle Meeks
9/3/2013
PHI1010
Word Count: 460

Socrates

In “The Apology” and “The Crito” Socrates argues about the importance and value of one’s self. He talks of how the greatest benefit is to be “as good and as wise as possible” and that no outcome, even death, would be more detrimental to the soul than betraying one’s own philosophy. In “The Apology,” Socrates argues that to be a good man you must be honest and put yourself before others. He states to the jury that “perhaps you think that I was convicted for lack of such words as might have convinced you. I was convicted because I lack not words but boldness and shamelessness and the willingness to say to you what you would most gladly have heard from me.” Socrates is arguing that although he could lie to the jury in order to escape his fate, to lie is “unworthy” of him. Socrates defends his argument by saying “I would much rather die after this kind of defense than live after making the other kind.” Socrates justifies that to lie his way out of death would be dishonest and to be dishonest is not something a good man would do. In “The Crito,” Socrates refuses the opportunity to escape because he believes that “the really important thing is not to live, but to live well.” Socrates examines Crito’s plan of escape and builds the ultimate argument. Socrates begins by stating that an agreement should be fulfilled. He follows by stating that laws speak the truth and to leave without the city’s permission is not fulfilling the agreement of respecting the city’s laws. Socrates ends his argument by assuring Crito that wrong for wrong is immoral and is not that of a good man and through his death showed his respect for the city’s laws, the city, and himself. Socrates shows Crito that his death sentence was more upsetting to others than to himself and that Crito’s plan contradicts his philosophy. Socrates