Plato’s Crito

Week 4: Living well

Premise: one should live well / rightly / honorably. 48b-48e

Like the premise discussed last week (that one should follow wise opinions, not necessarily the majority opinion), this week’s premise is somewhat introductory. Socrates is softening Crito up for an argument to come. Before invoking the view of the “laws of Athens,” Socrates wants Crito to question his initial position that “everyone will think poorly of us if we don’t help you to escape.”

In last week’s discussion, we saw Socrates’ suggestion that, just as ignoring the advice of a qualified physical trainer will lead to bodily decay, so ignoring the advice of a qualified moral guide will lead to decay of some part of us (presumably the soul) that is even more important than the body.

This week we look at Socrates’ statement that “the really important thing is not to live, but to live well.” What can we make of this?

• Is there a connection between health of our soul and living well?
• Is there reason to think that living well means the same for everyone?
• What does living well look like? Is Socrates an example?
• What does Socrates mean by saying that living well is the same as living honorably?

If you’re reading along in Greek, cover 47c8-48d7.