Crito - Response to Socrates Essay

Total Length: 838 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

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Thus, I do not agree with Socrates' argument that citizens should always obey their governments because I believe that some governments do not provide for their citizens, while other citizens choose other institutions to provide for their social needs.

Second, Socrates' own happiness with his government is certainly not shared by all citizens of every government. When the law asks Socrates whether or not he has any complaint to make regarding the state's role in his life so far, Socrates replies that he has none. He has to qualm with the way in which the government has created him -- through his parents marriage -- or educated him. The law replies that since Socrates has to complaint in this area, he must not have a complaint in the area of his death. Many, however, do have issue with the way that the government has played its role in their social lives. Some suggest that the government has even set them up for failure by providing poor schools, limited housing, and no job opportunities. Therefore, I do not agree with Socrates' argument that suggests citizens should obey their governments because of their previous use of government social services and lack of complaint, as many, including myself, have complaints of the government's role.

Third and Finally, Socrates' argument that the government is a higher authority than its citizens is false.
Socrates suggests that citizens are a slave or child to the government that has created and raised them. But government is not something independent of its citizens. While government is an intangible concept, it is made up of very tangible citizens running it -- judges, police officers, mayors, and presidents. These people are ordinary citizens and human beings. They have all undertaken the same rites of citizenship and have the same biology as other citizens. They just happen to be in power while the others do not. Thus, thinking of the government as an authority in the way Socrates does is incorrect, in my view, because that government is simply made up of other citizens.

Thus, Socrates argues that a person should obey his or her government in any circumstance that this is the right and moral thing to do. If government is defined as a structure through which populations are managed, though, I disagree with his argument, suggesting that some governments may not fee the need to manage their citizens social needs, people may have complaints about their governments, and governments are not a higher authority......

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