Crito

by Plato

"Crito" by Plato is a dialogue written around 399 BC. It depicts a conversation between Socrates and his friend Crito as Socrates awaits execution in prison. Crito urges Socrates to escape, offering money and refuge, but Socrates refuses. Through their debate about justice and injustice, Socrates personifies the Laws of Athens to argue that wrongdoing cannot be answered with wrongdoing. The dialogue presents an early statement of social contract theory.