Plato's Euthyphro, Apology of Socrates, and Crito.

Defiance, Persuasion, or Conformity? The Argument in Plato's Apology and Crito

While the relation between the individual and the state belongs clearly to one of the most complex issues in Western political philosophy, the relation between the Socrates of the Apology and that of the Crito ranks, accordingly, as one of the most contentious problems in the entire Socratic scholarship. This is due to the fact that in the Apology (29 c–d) one is confronted with a defiant rebel...

The Piety of Escape

This paper examines two seemingly contradictory views of piety found in Plato’s Euthyphro and Crito. Using the Socratic dialogues for evidence of what Socrates actually believed and to piece together a Socratic account of piety, it seems that his argument in favor of remaining in prison is inconsistent with his own beliefs. The paper concludes that Socrates ought not to have thought it was impi...

Records Management Theory's Dilemma: What is a Record? Joshua Finnell

In the Euthyphro, Socrates encounters Euthyphro outside the courts where both are enroute to trials pertaining to piety. Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for murder, while Socrates is on trial for engaging in impious acts. In the course of their conversation Socrates questions whether prosecuting one's own father is impious, especially after Euthyphro boldly claims his act is not (Plato, 200...

Why Not Escape? On the Hosiotes in Plato’s Crito

Why does Socrates drink his hemlock? What motivates his rejection of Crito’s proposal to escape? These and similar questions concerning the decision made by the philosopher gave rise to a considerable number of scholarly inquiries as well as to a whole array of answers. Thus, Greenberg (1965) sought the explanation in Socrates’ “heroic temper”, while Barker (1977) argued for the decisive role o...

Euthyphro Dilemma