Big Thinker Problem: What Ought Socrates Do? Essay Example
Socrates is calmly facing his impending death, having been warned by his close friend Cricto of the imminent arrival of the ship bearing his executioners. Despite being prepared to accept death whenever it comes, Socrates remains unfazed. However, Cricto is determined to rescue him and has devised various strategies to assist him in escaping to safer places.
Socrates faces a dilemma - escape death as advised by his friend Cricto or wait for his adversaries to come and kill him to be seen as a hero. In my opinion, Socrates should follow Cricto's plan and escape to a safer place where his enemies cannot reach him. By escaping, Socrates can avoid a death that could have been prevented if he had listened to Cricto. It is evident that Socrates has numerous friends who are willing to help him escape and avoi
...d the impending death. Some of his friends have already made arrangements for his escape, indicating the amount of support he has and the grief that would be caused by his death if he doesn't take advantage of this assistance. Socrates is also concerned that if he escapes, his friends will be in trouble with his pursuers, potentially losing their properties as a form of punishment for helping him escape.
Cricto assures Socrates that the properties or consequences cannot add value to his life or their friendship. To Cricto, suffering does not matter more than Socrates' life; he is willing to sacrifice anything for Socrates to live (Bonner, K. 2016).
If Socrates also chooses to escape, he can live in exile until his pursuers have died or given up searching for him. Cricto has arranged for friends to
host Socrates while in exile until it becomes safe for him to return and resume his normal life.
Socrates must also consider his young sons who rely on him for raising and education. Failing to save himself from impending death would be a betrayal of his sons.
Socrates' sons, like the other children, are still young and require education and care. If Socrates were to be killed at this moment, his children would become orphans during a vulnerable stage in their lives. Being orphaned would cause them additional suffering since no one could provide for them as well as their biological parents. As a result, it is in Socrates' best interest to escape and find sanctuary in safer places. He has numerous friends willing to help him, and he also has the duty of raising his sons.
Reference
- Bonner, K. (2016, July). Socrates and Crito: Anxiety and the Engagement between the Empirical and Analytic (Ideal) Worlds of Athens. In Engaging Worlds: Core Texts and Cultural Contexts. Selected Proceedings from the Sixteenth Annual Conference of the Association for Core Texts and Courses (p. 123). UPA.
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