Crito

Name: Crito
Author: Plato

By Plato

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About This Book

A close friend visits a condemned philosopher in prison and urges him to escape, citing danger to reputation, care for his children, and arranged plans and funds; the philosopher resists, arguing that a good life requires refusing to commit injustice, not returning evil for evil, and honoring the implicit agreement with the city's laws that shaped his life. He imagines the laws themselves responding that breaking them would undermine the common good and dishonor him, and he concludes that preserving justice outweighs personal survival, choosing to accept the legal sentence rather than flee.

About the Author

Plato

Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher, a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, whose works have profoundly influenced Western philosophy. He is best known for his dialogues, which explore various philosophical themes including ethics, politics, and metaphysics. Among his most notable works is the "Apology," which presents Socrates' defense during his trial. Plato founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in the Western world. His writings, characterized by their dialectical method and exploration of ideal forms, continue to be studied for their insights into human thought and society.