Crito

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/crito

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote Crito?Plato
2. What is the date of composition (estimated)?Around the same time as Plato's 'Apology'
3. What is the primary philosophical theme?The moral obligation to obey the laws of the state
4. What is the main story of Crito about?The story is about Socrates, who is about to be executed, and his friend Crito who wants him to escape. Crito offers money, shame, and family reasons to persuade him. Socrates decides to stay and follow the laws instead.
5. Why did Socrates refuse to escape with his friend Crito?Socrates says that staying in Athens means he promised to obey its laws, like a contract. Escaping would betray those laws and harm his soul more than his life. He believes it is better to live a just life than to escape unjustly.

Dialogue: A literary form presenting a conversation between characters, often used to explore philosophical ideas.
Personification: Attributing human characteristics to abstract concepts or inanimate objects, as Socrates does with the Laws of Athens.
Social Contract Theory: A philosophical concept suggesting that individuals implicitly agree to surrender certain freedoms for the benefits of living in an organized society governed by laws.
Civic Duty: The responsibilities and obligations of a citizen within a society or community.