Crito (Plato) facts for kids

Crito is an ancient Greek story written by the famous philosopher Plato around 360 BC. It's a conversation, also called a dialogue, between two people: Socrates and his friend Crito.

The story is all about whether Socrates should escape from prison. Crito wants to help him get away, but Socrates believes it's wrong to break the law, even if the law seems unfair. In the end, Socrates convinces Crito that he must stay in prison and accept his punishment.

Plato, who was a student of Socrates, wrote many dialogues like this one. Socrates often appears as a character in Plato's writings. This particular dialogue is based on the real-life events leading up to Socrates' death. Socrates was indeed put to death by drinking a poison called hemlock.

What is the Dialogue Crito About?

The dialogue Crito explores important ideas about fairness, justice, and following the rules. It asks a big question: Should a person obey the laws of their city, even if they disagree with a decision made by those laws?

The Main Characters: Socrates and Crito

Socrates was a very wise and famous philosopher in ancient Greece. He loved to ask questions and make people think deeply about life. Crito was a loyal friend of Socrates. He cared deeply for Socrates and wanted to save him from a terrible fate.

The Big Problem: Should Socrates Escape?

Socrates was in prison because he had been accused of certain things by the city of Athens. His friends, especially Crito, believed he was innocent and wanted to help him escape. They had a plan, and they were ready to help him leave Athens.

Socrates' Argument: Why He Must Stay

Even though Crito offered a way out, Socrates refused to escape. He argued that escaping would be like breaking a promise to the city and its laws. He believed that if everyone broke laws they didn't like, the city would fall apart. Socrates felt that by living in Athens, he had agreed to follow its rules, even when they were difficult. He thought it was more important to uphold justice and the law than to save his own life by doing something wrong.

The Outcome: A Difficult Choice

In the end, Socrates convinced Crito that staying in prison was the right thing to do. He chose to accept his fate, showing his strong belief in the importance of law and justice. This dialogue teaches us about personal responsibility and the idea of a social contract, which is like an unspoken agreement between citizens and their government.

Images for kids

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  The start of Crito in an old book from around 895 AD, kept at the Bodleian Library.

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  Crito closing Socrates' eyes after Socrates' death.

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  The cover of an Italian translation of the Crito dialogue.

See also

In Spanish: Critón (diálogo) para niños