This week, we read Plato’s Crito. The story revolves around Socrates awaiting his death, which he has accepted. Though Crito comes to help him escape, Socrates rejects his help. He argues that if he ran away, he would be breaking the “social contract” and thus becoming an outlaw. Though Socrates makes valid points, man has no obligation to follow unjust law.
Disregard for unjust rule is in the foundation of the United States. When King George removed protection from the colonies in 1775, the colonies saw themselves as free and declared it so. A minority of American colonists took up arms against the British Crown, and with some outside help, won and became independent. Though the United States has had a rocky history, something that set it apart is recognition of God given (or, inalienable) rights. For the purpose of this argument, the first amendment to the bill of rights being the most important.
The first amendment recognizes and protects the right to free expression and the practice of religion. In the Crito, Socrates is put to death on the accusation of corrupting the youth. Socrates unique way of teaching through what became known as the Socratic Method was seen negatively by Athenian rulers, who believed Socrates and his teachings were dangerous. If the Framers of the constitution believed the rights guaranteed in the first amendment to be inalienable, the same should be true in ancient Greece.
Socrates did not have the protection of the bill of rights, only the law of the Athenians. Though it is important to recognize and respect the law, Socrates could and should have escaped with his friend Crito. When his rights are being violated by the state, he has no obligation to tolerate the suppression, nor should he have been put to death.
Crito also makes a good point, that Socrates is letting his enemies win by accepting his death at the hands up the state. Though Socrates does not care about what others may think of him, he certainly had more he could have accomplished with his life. It is sad to see him die when he did not have to, but he truly did believe in the social contract and should be commended for his consistency.
This is just as true today as it was in the time of Socrates. In the United States, we are lucky to have a bill of rights and a court system that presumes innocence until proven guilty. Because of how our system is set up, it does not always work in favor of justice. We should and must always be aware of what laws our government creates, and the decisions of our legal system. Just because our leaders make these decisions, does not mean they are always right.
