Every good education needs to include a study of Plato’s works. There are several reason’s why this is true. In fact, reading Plato is so important for people today that I have written an entire section to try to persuade you. (Include link to little essay on reading plato). His writings are the best introduction to (the best of) serious thinking.
Thankfully, Plato’s writings are not only excellent works of philosophy - they are also superb works of literature. They are well-written and easy to read. The concepts they contain are as deep as human thought is capable of, and yet, they are presented in simple and entertaining ways. Do not expect that Plato’s writings are thick and boring just because they are studied by academics. Plato wrote dialogues that were meant to be read aloud to groups of people. He wrote them to be engaging and enjoyable as well as profitable.
Not all of Plato’s works are easily accessible to casual readers (and younger readers). Some of his later works are convoluted and require perseverance of the reader. However, most of his early works can be read profitably by anyone over the age of 16. These earlier dialogues are each centred around Socrates (read more about him here). We follow this highly intelligent man as he goes around Athens having conversations with various people. Young people have a lot to gain by reading the dialogues, and re-reading them again as they mature.
This dialogue takes place in prison on the very last day of Socrates’ life. He had been sentenced to death and is waiting to die by poison on this day. His friend Crito comes to tell him that he can help him escape from prison. Crito tries to convince Socrates that he should escape prison because he was unfairly sentenced. Socrates refuses to leave. He argues that he should stay and die in prison because it is his duty. H makes some very strong argument for this surprising claim! Readers will think very deeply about what it means to be fair and just and about the weight of responsibility.
Plato is not didactical, he is convincing!
