Crito

What if obeying an unjust verdict were the highest act of justice?

Plato's Crito captures the quiet hours before Socrates drinks the hemlock, revealing a razor-sharp debate about legal obedience, moral duty, and the price of integrity. This modern translation restores the dialogue's urgency and clarity, inviting readers to weigh Socrates' radical resolve against Crito's heartfelt pleas.

What You'll Explore in This Edition:

Law vs. Conscience - Why Socrates claims fleeing Athens would harm the very soul Crito hopes to save. The Social Contract, Ancient-Style - A concise primer on the obligations between citizen and state centuries before Rousseau. Civil Disobedience Re-examined - Fresh commentary linking the dialogue to Thoreau, Gandhi, King, and modern protest movements. Guided Reading Tools - Section summaries, key Greek terms, and critical-thinking prompts ideal for study groups and classrooms. The Prison Trilogy Complete - Cross-references to Apology and Phaedo show the full arc of Socrates' final days.

Whether you're a student of philosophy, a defender of justice, or a seeker of moral clarity, Crito challenges you to decide when breaking the law becomes a deeper betrayal-and when obedience itself is the ultimate form of resistance.