Research Paper On SOCRATES

Socrates has been accused of corrupting the youth by Meletus and has been sentenced to death. Socrates’ execution has been delayed because of a ship that was on an annual religious mission and no executions could take place until the ship had returned. While he is awaiting the execution, Crito, a friend of Socrates, comes to tell him that the ship from Delos will soon return and he must escape from the prison. Crito says that he has bribed the prison guard and that Socrates could easily escape. He says Socrates can go to Thessaly where he can continue to spread his philosophy. Crito also says that if Socrates doesn’t escape, he and his friends will have a bad reputation because people will think that they did not help their friend. Crito also mentions that Socrates has his sons to think of and that his friends will have much grief at his death. If Socrates does not escape, Crito says people will think he was a coward. In the end, Socrates decides not to escape for many reasons. First Socrates replies to Crito’s emphasis on what people will think of him. Socrates believes that an individual should not care what everyone will think, b...