Between Socrates and the Many

Between Socrates and the Many: A Study of Platos Crito is foremost concerned with Platos character, Crito. By focusing on its namesake, Hoffpauir draws attention to aspects of the Crito that may otherwise go unnoticed or underrated: justice, as most know it, seems unjust, and justice, as Socrates knows it, seems impossible; love of ones own, as most know it, limits ones own good and the citys good; and concern for the body and hatred of suffering undermine virtue. Through a consideration of the problems evinced by Critoproblems not peculiar to him or to his Athensreaders may gain a newfound appreciation of why Socrates arguments about living well fail. More importantly, by considering why Socrates must advance these arguments in the first place, readers may come to appreciate the strength of mans natural resistance to that which is necessary for civilized life. Although Crito initially comes to sight as in-between Socrates and the many, as one who shares in the opinions of both, in the end, Crito reveals that all that is in-between Socrates and the many is an unbridgeable chasm.