Plato's Crito Summary and Analysis

The Crito follows the Apology chronologically; the dialogue finds Socrates in prison, with Socrates submitted to the laws of Athens and refusing to resist his death. Socrates' friend Crito tries to convince him to escape and go into exile rather than face death by execution. His friends have taken care of all the details; to survive, Socrates must merely agree to go along with the plan. Crito was unmoved by Socrates' defense of himself and was embarrassed by Socrates' behavior at the trial generally. In fact, Crito thinks Socrates unjust and cowardly because Socrates would not defend himself, not to mention his friends and family. Crito can be seen as holding the perspective of 'the many,' of condemning Socrates according to the norms and expectations of the Athenians. Socrates, however, has already rejected these norms and expectations as...