Socrates Vs Thoreau Essay, Research Paper

Having read both Crito and Civil Disobedience there are several

conspicuous similarities as well as notable differences. Both of these

documents deal with the government and how the people should view it.

However, in Crito, Socrates is more devoted to the government and would

uphold its decisions even if it cost him his life. Thoreau on the other hand

believes that the government is not always right and it is up to the people

to criticize it so that it can be improved.

Both of these essays were written while the authors were in jail.

Socrates is in jail awaiting the death penalty in Crito, while Thoreau wrote

Civil Disobedience while he was incarcerated. This similarity however creates

different tones in both essays. In Crito the moral is to be obedient and

submissive to the government at all costs, even death. Thoreau however

probably felt much greater hatred of the government for his minor penalty and

instead of preaching obedience he went off on a different tangent.

Despite Thoreau?s contumacious thoughts his essay holds more promise for

the future because instead of blindly accepting obvious faults in the system,

Thoreau encourages protest for even the minor flaws because otherwise no

progress will ever come out of our society. His ideas bear resemblance to the

general flow of knowledge, we must speak out against established beliefs in

the face of adversity, much like Copernicus did when he ruled the Sun and not

the Earth as the center of the universe. He challenged the beliefs of the

church and risked his life and liberty but we have to thank him today because

although he made his life more miserable the knowledge we have gained has

made everyone else?s better.

Although Thoreau has made many pertinent and valid points in his essay

Crito also holds many notable aspects in dealing with government problems.

Crito teaches peace and stamina when dealing with problems. Eventually

through popular opinion what must be done will be done, however for the time

being you must obey all laws regardless of the severity or pertinence to you

and must welcome the punishment if you knowingly commit a crime. This sort of

non violent way of life is only suited for an utopia. The reason this cannot

exist in the real world with quick results is that everybody wants different

rules and laws. The Catholic church has quite different views on what is

right and wrong than a criminal. there can be no one set of laws that

encompasses all the people and nobody feels oppressed. There will always be

disgruntled people.

In conclusion both Crito and Civil Disobedience raise many points on how

the people are supposed to react to an oppressive government. However, in the

real world only the teachings in Civil Disobedience can bring about change

because nobody will ever hear us if we don?t complain. It is through

criticism, and protest that abrupt reform can be brought around. Crito?s

lessons only work in an imaginary utopia where everybody wants the same thing

and everyone has the same exact same views on the government.