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Why Did Socrates Drink The Hemlock? Plato's Crito presents us with an aging Socrates in an Athenian jail, awaiting his execution for crimes against the state. Among the charges he was convicted of was impiousness towards the Athenian god's and corruption of the youth. Socrates is visited by his close friend Crito, who assures and urges Socrates that he could escape form jail rather easily. Socrates refuses to run away from his predicament and as …

…these individuals, the Athenian government, and him. Socrates realizes that although he believes in his own principles he must respect the decision of the government and uphold it, for one questionable act does not merit another in return. It is for these reasons that he will not escape from jail and disobey the Athenian Government. Rather he must face his execution with dignity. The systematic method of the Elenchus seems to be back in gear.