Editing Crito (section)

{{short description|Platonic dialogue concerning justice and injustice}}
{{for|people named Criton or Crito|Criton (disambiguation)}}
{{italic title}}
[[File:Kriton_beginning._Clarke_Plato.jpg|thumb|Beginning of ''Crito'' in the ''Codex Oxoniensis Clarkianus 39'' of the [[Bodleian Library|Bodleian library]] (dating from around 895).]]
'''''Crito''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|aɪ|t|oʊ}} {{respell|KRY|toh}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|iː|t|oʊ}} {{respell|KREE|toh}}; {{langx|grc|Κρίτων}} {{IPA|el|krítɔːn|}}) is a dialogue written by the [[ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] philosopher [[Plato]]. It depicts a conversation between [[Socrates]] and his wealthy friend [[Crito of Alopece]] regarding justice (''δικαιοσύνη''), injustice (''ἀδικία''), and the appropriate response to injustice. It follows Socrates' imprisonment, just after the events of the ''[[Apology (Plato)|Apology]]''.

In ''Crito'', Socrates believes injustice may not be answered with injustice, personifies the Laws of Athens to prove this, and refuses Crito's offer to finance his escape from prison. The dialogue contains an ancient statement of the [[social contract theory]] of government. In contemporary discussions, the meaning of ''Crito'' is debated to determine whether it is a plea for [[unconditional obedience]] to the laws of a society. The text is one of the few Platonic dialogues that appear to be unaffected by Plato's opinions on the matter; it is dated to have been written around the same time as the ''Apology''.