Crito's Social Circles in Plato's Crito

Authors

  • Yosef Z. Liebersohn

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/classicaetmediaevalia.v72i.137098

Abstract

In this paper I identify and discuss three different circles concerning Crito’s social relations: the internal circle of those who know him well; the external circle of those who are Crito’s fellow citizens but who do not know him well; and the third circle which is the polis with its laws. Crito uses – both consciously and unconsciously – different stratagems in dealing with these different circles. The speech of the Laws is Socrates’ attempt to allow Crito to see his actual behavior, as if reflected in a mirror. In fact Crito harms his friends, cheats his fellow citizens and destroys the polis.

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Published

2023-04-27

How to Cite

Liebersohn, Y. Z. (2023). Crito’s Social Circles in Plato’s Crito. Classica Et Mediaevalia, 72, 37–80. https://doi.org/10.7146/classicaetmediaevalia.v72i.137098