Katie Maser
English 298B
Rough Draft 1
10/21/11
If Goldman were Crito
We find ourselves in the City State of Athens, in a jail cell somewhere deep within the city. Socrates sits alone awaiting his punishment, sullen with the knowledge that he will likely never be a free man again. Socrates accepts his fate; he is an old man who has lived a long and prosperous life. He has decided that his death will serve the purpose of further perpetuating the Socratic method, and to remind the citizens of Athens that those who posses the most knowledge are those who admit that they don’t know everything. Suddenly the door opens and two people walk in. One is someone that Socrates recognizes immediately; it is his student, Plato. The other is one that Socrates is not familiar with. She has dark hair and wears glasses, and looks like she does not descend from Athenians. She introduces herself as Emma Goldman, and she explains that she and Plato have decided that they need Socrates to be a mediator in the argument that they have been having.
“Certainly.” Replies Socrates, “of what subject are you disagreeing upon?”
“The subject of your death.” Says Goldman, quite matter-of-factly, “Plato and I simply cannot agree on the fact that you wish to remain in Athens and accept your punishment, when you have an opportunity to escape!”
“I’ve already explained to her your views on tacit consent and the right of the City State of Athens to prosecute you.” Says Plato, rolling his eyes, “but she simply will not listen. See, Emma Goldman is an anarchist, and she believes that the complete abolishment of government and the instillment of the free will of humans is enough to suffice as adequate authority.”
“You’re damn right.” retorted Emma, “it’s just not right Socrates. You were unfairly prosecuted under a government that really shouldn’t have existed in the first place. We as humans should have more faith in ourselves to govern and dictate our lives. Government and “higher authority” are simply strangleholds to our free will.”
“Without government and laws there would be chaos.” Scoffed Plato, “Socrates knows that. That is why he cannot escape, for he would be breaking his pact with the laws of Athens that have bound him for seventy years.”
“But Plato, might I remind you that Socrates himself stated that when one is performing an action, the most important consideration, even over life and death, is whether or not one is acting justly. Socrates would not admit to wrongdoing, even though the Laws of Athens demanded it of him, yet he sits here now, a slave to his old fashioned beliefs! And don’t try do deny it either, I read The Apology twice before I came here. Socrates, I know that you have lived a long life, but aren’t you afraid of the end?”
“Emma, if you read my text so thoroughly, then you would recall that Socrates cannot fear death, because no one can know what happens when we cease living. It can be hard to face the unknown, but having a “fear” of death is just another false wisdom.”
“Alright, I may of skimmed over that point. But I’m right about his view of just and unjust actions. Socrates, if you were truly wise you would take your own advice and realize that a huge injustice is being imposed upon you!” Goldman throws up her hands in exasperation.
“She has a point, Plato.” sighed Socrates, “I suppose in my old age I may be becoming rather hypocritical. But I have chosen my path, and I accept my punishment, however unjust it may be, because I have consented to the authority of this city state.”
Socrates closes his eyes for a moment, and there is a brief pause in the conversation. Emma Goldman is visibly upset, she believes that Socrates is a fabulous philosopher and thinker and his unfair death would be a devastation to scholars everywhere. Although she disagrees with the majority of his ideas, she respects that he is a free thinker and not afraid to seek knowledge in unconventional fashions. Plato feels defeated; although he does not want Socrates to face his punishment, he knows that it is necessary to hold oneself to the ideals that they have set for themselves. Finally, after a few more moments have passed, Socrates opens his eyes.
“I believe that I wish to be alone at this moment.” He says quietly. “I have lived a long and prosperous life, and I would like to reflect on my seventy years before I meet my final end.”
“Yes Socrates, Emma and I will step outside for a few minutes and let you gather your thoughts. I actually have some ideas about her philosophy that I would like to run by her in the meantime. We will be back in soon.” Plato and Goldman leave the small jail cell and step outside into the larger chamber. They sit down at a table in the corner, and Plato begins.
“Emma, I brought you out here to speak with you about a passage in particular within your essay, regarding Anarchism as “the only philosophy which brings to man the consciousness of himself”. You compare the relationship between the individual and social instinct to the heart and the lungs. This is a thought provoking metaphor, and I agree that the individual is the heart of society, and with your view on the essence of social life. However, the lungs, the heart, and everything else cannot function without a brain. So I would like to extend your metaphor for a moment, if you don’t mind, to include my thoughts on the brain as a metaphor for government. The organs of the body need a governing power, or a higher authority, and that would be the brain. Without it, chaos would ensue, and I guarantee that the body would perish. Such can be said for a society without government. It is human nature to fight and steal, and do all of the other sinful yet rewarding things. Without a higher authority, how would we facilitate equality and reason? The selfish nature of the human race is far too powerful to be given that kind of responsibility.”
“But Plato, with a higher power comes higher risk of corruption and dictatorship.” replied Goldman. “How can we be sure that an instilled democracy wouldn’t turn into a tyrannical mess?”
“This is where your faith in human nature should come into play” replied Plato, “if the governed have given their consent to the authority, that authority is legitimate. We as citizens must trust that those who we instill our faith in will use their power for the good of the people. There have been plenty of instances of bad behavior in government, but those examples do not outweigh all of the good that has come out of having a proper authority.”
“I suppose you make a good point.” replied Goldman, “but I cannot reconcile that a man is on death row for allegedly threatening the higher authority. It goes against everything I stand for.”
“I know, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. Socrates has made up his mind.”
“I suppose we should go tell him we’ve settled our argument? I guess we will have to agree to disagree.”
“Sounds good to me.” They stand up and go back into Socrates’ cell, neither fully satisfied with the results of their argument.
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