Question:
Discuss and evaluate the reasons Socrates gives for not escaping jail even though he had ample opportunity to do so. What is the nature of the “social contract” here that Socrates is following?
Answer:
Socrates, as we know in our previous lesson of this class, was sentenced to death for allegedly corrupting the youth and refusing to acknowledge the Gods recognized by Athens. He felt that escaping his convictions would have also been contradictory to his beliefs. He also believed that such an act would have been an immoral, which would have been bad for his soul. Socrates also believed that it was better to suffer an injustice, than to commit a crime which will lead to a corrupts soul. This is why he said, “all I do is to go about persuading you, young and old alike, not to care for your bodies or for your wealth so intensely as for the greatest possible well-being of your souls.”
The nature of the social contract here in my opinion was to obey the law and never do wrong which is why he rejected an offer of escape as inconsistent with his commitment never to do wrong (escaping would show disrespect for the laws and harm the reputations of his family and friends). Also, we must understand that even though Socrates was very outspoken and questioned those of the Athenian elite, he still respected the laws of the Athenian government. -Samuel