PQ47

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From Avner Levy:

As socrates mentions in his argument to Crito that 4.Violating a just agreement causes injury to people. 5. Escape would be a violation of a just agreement.6. Escape is wrong. 1) if Socrates wrongs the laws the laws lose substance with the people these very laws where set to protect. The laws cant protect a people that dont obey them. 2) Socrates is a public figure in Athens. by disobeying the laws Socrates destroyes the laws he himself help streangthen and put in place. 3) By not disobeying the laws Socrates is actually strengthening them and showing that there is no way he ever disobeyed the laws bec he is so passionate about not breaking them that he would die not to break them. if he would break them the laws would be wronged a third time and people can lose more faith in the system then if Socrates would have left. its ironic how Socrates was acused of disobeying the laws and then to be found guarding them so strongly.

>rm says: These are interesting points, but they aren't quite on point, here. The laws say that he harms them in three specific ways.

>From nr:

1st: disobeying the laws would be like disobeying your parents
2nd: because the laws are the authors of his education
3rd: he has made an agreement with them that he will obey the laws and that he will not try to change them.

>rm says: He doesn't agree not to try to change the laws, but to live by the laws which are in effect, even if he disagrees with them.

Plato Reading Guide 47. In what three ways would Socrates wrong the laws if he disobeyed them?		Back to Plato Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
Enter your response to the above question, or to a previous response, in the form below, or use this email link. I will post your response on the right, and comment if I think I can be helpful. When emailing, instead of using the form, please indicate the question number. When using the form below, if you neglect to enter your name or email, I won't know who you are.	Class Responses and Instructor Comments >From Avner Levy: As socrates mentions in his argument to Crito that 4.Violating a just agreement causes injury to people. 5. Escape would be a violation of a just agreement.6. Escape is wrong. 1) if Socrates wrongs the laws the laws lose substance with the people these very laws where set to protect. The laws cant protect a people that dont obey them. 2) Socrates is a public figure in Athens. by disobeying the laws Socrates destroyes the laws he himself help streangthen and put in place. 3) By not disobeying the laws Socrates is actually strengthening them and showing that there is no way he ever disobeyed the laws bec he is so passionate about not breaking them that he would die not to break them. if he would break them the laws would be wronged a third time and people can lose more faith in the system then if Socrates would have left. its ironic how Socrates was acused of disobeying the laws and then to be found guarding them so strongly. >rm says: These are interesting points, but they aren't quite on point, here. The laws say that he harms them in three specific ways. >From nr: 1st: disobeying the laws would be like disobeying your parents 2nd: because the laws are the authors of his education 3rd: he has made an agreement with them that he will obey the laws and that he will not try to change them. >rm says: He doesn't agree not to try to change the laws, but to live by the laws which are in effect, even if he disagrees with them.
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