Civil Disobedience

One of those views concerns the idea of always following the laws created by the State under any circumstance, no matter how unjust it might seem. While the other view coincides with the idea that the laws created by government are not always just and that is up to the individual to decide whether or not to follow them. The two readings in this section is The Crito, a dialogue written by Plato concerning Socrates awaiting execution, and Henry David Thoreau's essay, Civil Disobedience.

The Crito begins during the time in which Socrates has been given his sentence and is sitting within his jail cell. Crito, a friend of Socrates, waits for Socrates to awaken from his slumber early in the morning in order to persuade Socrates to flee the cell to save him from being executed. After telling Socrates of a ship that is bound to arrive, conflict arises and Crito is steadfast in his persuasion telling Socrates that if he were to stay and die, that not only was he losing a friend, but people might think that Crito was more concerned with his personal finances that breaking Socrates out of jail. Socrates then argues against this idea, telling Critos that the opinion of the masses is not important. What other people think can neither harm nor benefit anyone, and that is best to disregard what others think. Crito then begins to argue another point, by which he askes Socrates whether he is worried about getting caught, Socrates says it is true, however it is not only thing stopping him. Crito tells Socrates that money is not a problem, that when he escapes he can stay in Thessaly and it would be for the benefit of his children that he should flee. Crito tells Socrates that he is being a coward and that rather than trying to flee he is simply giving what the opposition wants, death.

Socrates goes on to tell Crito that he cannot make a decision without reason, he then begins to say that he has not been persuaded by Crito and adds on to his argument of disregarding the opinion of the masses, and rather it is more beneficial to regard the opinion of one who understands the law and justice. He tells Crito in rhetoric of the government, that it is never just to do wrong as retaliation for someone who has committed acts of injustice.

Socrates then refers to laws, stating that by fleeing he is doing harm to a State that has provided for him. It would be a better choice for Socrates to stay rather than fleeing to Thessaly. The argument that his children will still be cared for by his friends and retain Athenian citizenship. But now that if Socrates were to leave with Crito, he is destroying the state by breaking promises in which he has made, he would also be leaving his innocence behind. Socrates then asks Crito whether he has any objections, in which he says no, proving Socrates' argument.

The chapter then turns to Thoreau's Civil Disobedience in which he argues for the defiance against established government. Civil Disobedience