Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates

By Plato transl. Benjamin Jowett

• The Apology of Socrates by Plato is the Socratic dialogue that presents the speech of legal self-defence, which Socrates presented at his trial for impiety and corruption in 399 BC. Specifically, the Apology of Socrates is a defence against the charges of "corrupting the young" and "not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel" to Athens. Crito is a dialogue by Plato. It depicts a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito regarding justice, injustice, and the appropriate response to injustice. Socrates thinks that injustice may not be answered with injustice, and refuses Crito's offer to finance his escape from prison. This dialogue contains an ancient statement of the social contract theory of government. Ph