Antigone Versus Socrates in the Crito

Sophocles’ play “Antigone” illustrates the conflict between obeying human and divine law. The play opens after Oedipus’ two sons Eteocles and Polyneices have killed each other in a civil war for the throne of Thebes. Oedipus’ brother in law Creon then assumes the throne. He dictates that Eteocles shall receive a state funeral and honors, while Polyneices shall be left in the streets to rot away. Creon believes that Polyneices’ body shall be condemned to …

…as well as following the opinion of the expert or government, if there is one. Socrates will not, therefore, obey Crito unless Crito produces a principle superior to his. If Crito does not have a superior principle, as Creon does not deliver a superior argument than Antigone, Crito has no claim to be obeyed: on moral questions, only the best logos and the moral expert deserve his obedience. Thus Socrates delivers the better logical argument.