Crito: Dialogues of Plato

Crito questions

1. Compare the setting of Plato's Apology to the setting of the Crito. Where does each dialogue take place, how many people are present, and what is the significance of these dramatic details?
The Apology takes place mostly in a courtroom where Socrates is defending himself from Meletus. Crito’s setting is in a jail cell where Socrates waits for his execution after the verdict and Crito is there trying to persuade him from accepting his fate. These details set the entire section’s mood and show more meaning to the words that Socrates speaks in each passage.

2. Some readers think Socrates went along with his execution because he was already old. Would things have been different if he were younger?
No one could ever know for sure, but I don’t think it would have had a huge impact on his decision. Then again, I’m still young and maybe outlooks on life change with age. Socrates stands by his opinion that age has no bearing on his decision.

3. What made Socrates so attached to Athens, but even more devoted to his way of life that he was willing to die rather than give it up? Is Socrates a martyr either for the Laws of Athens or the cause of philosophy?
Socrates believes that one enters a contract with the city. He believes there are three wrongs in “betraying” that city: the disobedience of parents, the authors of one’s education and that personal contract to obey the laws. He is both a martyr for the Laws of Athens and his philosophy because his philosophy blends to include the Laws of Athens. They are intertwined so he technically followed both.

4. Crito claims that by suffering an unjust punishment Socrates will play into the hands of his accusers. Why does Socrates counter that his escape would corroborate the jury’s verdict to convict him?
If Socrates gives up his beliefs then he feels it would be proving the council right. He feels it would only confirm what they are claiming about him.

5. Why does Socrates tell Crito that "whatever he suffers from others", one would still not be justified to escape the punishment of the laws and the community of the city Does Socrates' argument that it is wrong to harm even those who do one harm make sense?
It’s the same old “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” philosophy. I personally agree with it because the circle of violence has to end somewhere. As for not being justified to escape punishment, I think that really depends on the individual’s philosophy. They shouldn’t use violence to do so, but if they run or stay that is a choice one needs to make on their own.