The Crito

Short talk, reading and group discussion Plato's dialogue The Crito - second of two meetings.

The Crito is a short dialogue set between the Apology (where Socrates is tried and condemned by the Athenian jury of 500) and the Phaedo (in which its sentence of death is carried out). Naturally, then, there are references to what was said by Socrates at his trial – that he was unwilling to stop philosophizing and asking awkward questions, that he doubted the understanding of those who did not examine issues carefully, and so on.
The dialogue is rarely studied but throws up two very important questions for us to consider: Firstly, if opinion is useful, from whence does its usefulness arise? (We will have discussed this on a previous evening - June 13th - but we will summarize the main points of that discussion before moving on to the second question). Secondly, what is the relation of the individual to society and its laws? Socrates conjures up for us personifications of Athens and Athenian Law in order that he can be cross-examined by them and thereby show Crito the necessity of due reverence to their dispensations. No doubt Socrates' assertions will stimulate our discussion of them after we have read the second half of the dialogue.

No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.

Entrance in free, but donations between £3-5 will be welcomed.

A PDF download of the extract we will be reading is available on our website together with further details of this and other Prometheus Trust's activities: www.prometheustrust.co.uk (the PDF is on the "London Monday Evenings" page.)

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