Insufficiency Of Honesty

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Makyla T. Pittman Prof Bristol ENG 090/Paper #2 2 October 2010 The Pursuit of Truth and Justice In the dialogue “Crito” we read of the last days of Socrates before his execution to take place in Athens. In this discussion between two friends, Crito proposes a plan to help Socrates to escape from prison. Throughout the conversation, Socrates considers the proposal, trying to decide whether escaping would be honorable and morally justified. Socrates poses the question, “Ought one to fulfill all one’s agreements, provided that they are right, or break them” (Plato 319).Being dishonorable and incorrect in judgment and procedure is not in line with the principles and ideals that he adheres to in his existence. Both Socrates and Crito present arguments for why he should or should not escape and the reasons behind each respective decision. After the formal interrogation, Socrates concludes that the act of escape would not be just, and he would be morally unjustified if he were to commit this act. The same probity is applied in Stephen L. Carter’s, “The Insufficiency of Honesty” where he links integrity with honesty. This essay addresses three constraints, Integrity cannot be attained without honorable and moral judgment; integrity may cause conflict that must be resolved whether or not it produces or protects interpersonal harmony; and a person who has integrity requires valor, virtue and rectitude. Having integrity forces one to forfeit all selfish or materialistic beliefs and values. Crito exhibits his having a lack of these characteristics in his conversation with Socrates. In his argument Crito brings up the issue of popular opinion. Crito says, “A great many people who do not know you and me very well will be sure to think that I let you down, because I could have saved you if I had been willing to spend the money” (Plato 312). Crito’s argument is clearly

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