Should Socrates flee prison in order to escape his unjust condemnation?

Crito’s four reasons for escaping The majority will think ill of Socrates and his

friends if he does not escape Since the court erred, it should not be obeyed The welfare of the children of Socrates

requires his escape Death is an evil to be avoided

1

Majority opinion is relevant only if true Rejection of Relativism

Relativism = truth determined by beliefs or attitudes; we create truth

One reason in support of some forms of relativism is that some truths are unobservable but knowable. How is this possible? Answer: Perhaps such truths are determined

according to relativism and, hence, knowable though unobservable

Absolutism = truth is determined by conditions of the world, not beliefs or attitudes; we discover truth

2

Consistency if you are not a relativist in science or

mathematics, why be a relativist in morals?

The possibility of rational discussion regarding a topic (morals) precludes relativism If rational disagreement with the moral

majority is possible, relativism is false

3

If morality is a matter of happiness & happiness is an objective/absolute condition, then morality is objective/absolute & relativism is false Is happiness an objective condition? What is happiness? Can we be mistaken about our own

happiness?

4

If relativism were true, then what the Nazis did would have been right (for them)

However, what the Nazi’s did was not right for them or for anyone

So, relativism is false

5

Socrates’ children are better off by his death than exile. (Absolutism)

We do not know whether death actually is a evil. Hence, we can’t appeal to the evil of death as a reason to escape

What of the injustice of the death sentence? Is civil disobedience just?

6

Why does Socrates oppose civil disobedience? His implicit contract with Athens

Promise to obey all laws, regardless of how they are enforced

Is this a binding promise? Stability of Athens as a condition of Socrates happiness

throughout life Life’s overall quality & the final act

To have lived well, Socrates must accept execution now

Compare the artist’s last brush stroke or the parent’s dying act

Too much is too much: Just as moderation in eating is better than excess, so too not living “too long” is better than living too long.

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