Plato’s Attitude Towards Suicide In The Dialogue Crito
Plato’s Attitude Towards Suicide In The Dialogue Crito

Author(s): Armand A. Voinov
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Trivent Publishing
Keywords: Plato; Crito; Socrates; suicide; laws; permitted suicide.
Summary/Abstract: Usually, Plato is not considered a philosopher that comprehensively treated the matter of suicide. This paper aims to show that Plato was concerned with the problem of suicide and that he gave an answer regarding at least one case of permitted suicide. This case is observed in the dialogue Crito which is the main subject of this paper. By trying to prove, through the character Crito, on the one hand, the obedience of Socrates towards the laws of the city-state and, on the other hand, the general importance of respecting the laws of the city-state, Plato let us observe a prefiguration of what may be his attitude towards suicide.

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