Crito

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.4

Word count: 29K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Crito by PlatoAuthor: Plato, 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: Latin, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Feb 14, 2016

Editor's review

Crito is a short but sharply focused early Platonic dialogue. It centers on Socrates in prison refusing to escape and debates the individual's obligation to obey the city's laws, justice and gratitude, and whether returning evil for evil is justified. This electronic edition is a Latin text, a public-domain document in classical languages and literature. It suits reading alongside the original rather than as a popular edition relying on modern translation and commentary. Its value lies in the compact dialogue structure and clear layers of argument, presenting Socratic inquiry within a very short space; it is often used in introductory courses in political philosophy, philosophy of law, and classics. When reading, first grasp each speaker's position, then work through paragraph by paragraph whether analogies such as tacit consent and the laws as parents hold, and finally return to Socrates' choice and its relation to the Apology. If you expect fluent Chinese storytelling or a complete intellectual-history background, this Latin original will seem demanding.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying classical languages who need a Latin text of a Platonic dialogue
Students in political philosophy or philosophy of law courses who need to study the original
Self-learners interested in the death of Socrates and the question of civic obedience
Researchers collecting public-domain classical texts for version comparison

Not a good fit for

Beginners who want a popular Chinese translation and a quick grasp of Plato's thought
General readers unfamiliar with Latin and without a parallel translation
Readers seeking systematic ethical theory rather than a single dialogue

Reading tips

First read a reliable Chinese or English translation to learn the plot, then return to the Latin original to compare key words and sentences.
As you read, list three or four main arguments of Socrates and note each one's analogies and premises.
After finishing, read it alongside the Apology and compare Socrates' different argumentative strategies in court and in prison.
Record 'obeying the law' and 'obeying justice' separately, write down the points you disagree with, and then recheck the original.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What issue does this dialogue mainly discuss?

At its core is Socrates' choice when offered escape from prison: whether the individual is obligated to obey the city's laws even when the verdict is unjust. The dialogue involves gratitude, tacit consent, and whether returning evil for evil is justified; it is a classic text for understanding civic obedience and political obligation.

Why is this version in Latin rather than Greek?

Project Gutenberg's public-domain texts come from various sources; this version is marked as Latin, possibly an early Latin translation or transcribed text. Plato's original is Greek, so for language study you need a Greek critical edition; if you care only about the arguments, use it with a modern translation.

It is very short; how can I read it without staying on the surface?

Short works require slower reading. Read through once to grasp the direction of the dialogue, then a second time marking premises and conclusions paragraph by paragraph, and a third time testing whether the analogies hold, such as whether the 'laws as parents' metaphor can support the obligation to obey. Finally, write down the one point you disagree with most and explain why.

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About the author

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCE Author

Plato (c. 427–347 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher. Reliable details of his life are limited in public sources, and his thought and writings are generally known through later accounts. The library holds 65 of his works, including the multi-volume Republic (Πολιτεία), the Symposium, and the Phaedo. These works are mostly dialogues with Socrates as the central figure, unfolding through question and answer around justice, the governance of the city, love, the soul, and knowledge, combining philosophical inquiry with dramatic literary form. The Republic, which discusses the ideal city and justice, is especially influential. Plato's style is marked by analogy, argument, and open-ended conclusions, and he has had a lasting influence on later Western philosophy and political thought.