Thesis advisor: Robert C. Bartlett / This dissertation investigates how Socrates understands his trial. It is a well-known fact that Socrates is accused of impiety and corruption of the young and is subsequently executed. Unlike an ordinary defendant who is supposed to make every effort to be acquitted, Socrates, behaving provocatively, seems even to induce the death penalty. By reading Plato's and Xenophon's works, this dissertation clarifies his thoughts on the trial that must be the basis of his conduct and explains how he achieves his aim. To deal with Socrates' view of the trial as a whole, this study examines three questions. First, does he believe in his own innocence? I argue that before and even at the trial, Socrates does not intend to prove his innocence effectively. He does not reveal his belief clearly, but at least it is clear that to be acquitted is not his primary purpose. Second, what does Socrates want to achieve at the trial? Socrates' primary purpose is to demonstrate his virtue in public. His speech that provocatively emphasizes his excellence as a benefactor of the city enables him to be convicted as a wise and noble man rather than as an impious corrupter of the young. Third, why does he refuse to escape from jail? I argue that by introducing the speech that defends the laws of the city, Socrates makes himself appear to be a supremely law-abiding citizen who is executed even when escape is possible. This study maintains that Socrates vindicates his philosophy before the ordinary people of Athens by making a strong impression of his moral excellence and utility to others. His presentation of philosophy makes it possible that being convicted and executed are compatible with appearing virtuous and being respected. Socrates promotes his posthumous reputation as a great philosopher, and thus secures the life of philosophy after his death by mitigating the popular hostility against him and philosophy as such. Socrates' understanding of his trial leads us to his idea of the nature of philosophy and the city, and of their ideal relationship. This dissertation is therefore an introduction to Socratic political philosophy. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Political Science.

Esta dissertação tem dois objetivos principais: (1) efetuar um estudo introdutório, concentrando-se sobretudo no argumento do diálogo que se encontra em 49a-c e (2) apresentar uma tradução do Críton de Platão em português a partir do original em grego. Quanto à tradução, esta está entremeada de notas e comentários que visam: (a) explicar o meu entendimento acerca das funções exercidas pelas partículas, que são abundantes no texto em grego; (b) esclarecer a sintaxe dos trechos que considerei mais complexos; (c) fundamentar algumas das opções que adotei na tradução; (d) explicar algumas referências a nomes, lugares e trechos de obras citados no texto original; e, finalmente, (e) evidenciar alguns pontos do Críton que não são tratados diretamente nesta dissertação, mas que são objetos de estudo e discussão entre os comentadores de Platão. Quanto ao trecho 49a-c, Sócrates propõe nele um princípio que limita a retaliação em resposta a uma injustiça qualquer sofrida. O estudo que me propus a fazer consiste em (a) evidenciar algumas ambigüidades presentes na formulação de tal princípio e em (b) uma análise das interpretações de três importantes comentadores de Platão sobre este tema. / This dissertation has two main objectives: (1) to perform a introductory study concerning the argument of the dialogue which lies in the passage 49a-c and (2) to present a translation of Platos Crito from the original text in Greek into Portuguese. With relation to the translation, it is interspersed with notes and commentaries whose intentions are: (a) to explain my understanding of the functions performed by the particles, which are plentiful in the text; (b) to clarify the syntax of the passages I considered more difficult; (c) to give support to some choices I adopted in the translation; (d) to explain some references to names, places and passages of other works mentioned in the original text; and, finally, (e) to point out some passages of the Crito with which I do not deal in this dissertation, but which are objects of study and discussion among the commentators on Plato. With relation to the passage 49a-c, Socrates proposes in it a principle that limits the retaliation in response to an injustice suffered. The study I intended to perform consists (a) in pointing out some ambiguities in the formulation of this principle and (b) in analyzing the interpretations of this passage performed by three important commentators on Plato.

Esta dissertação tem dois objetivos principais: (1) efetuar um estudo introdutório, concentrando-se sobretudo no argumento do diálogo que se encontra em 49a-c e (2) apresentar uma tradução do Críton de Platão em português a partir do original em grego. Quanto à tradução, esta está entremeada de notas e comentários que visam: (a) explicar o meu entendimento acerca das funções exercidas pelas partículas, que são abundantes no texto em grego; (b) esclarecer a sintaxe dos trechos que considerei mais complexos; (c) fundamentar algumas das opções que adotei na tradução; (d) explicar algumas referências a nomes, lugares e trechos de obras citados no texto original; e, finalmente, (e) evidenciar alguns pontos do Críton que não são tratados diretamente nesta dissertação, mas que são objetos de estudo e discussão entre os comentadores de Platão. Quanto ao trecho 49a-c, Sócrates propõe nele um princípio que limita a retaliação em resposta a uma injustiça qualquer sofrida. O estudo que me propus a fazer consiste em (a) evidenciar algumas ambigüidades presentes na formulação de tal princípio e em (b) uma análise das interpretações de três importantes comentadores de Platão sobre este tema. / This dissertation has two main objectives: (1) to perform a introductory study concerning the argument of the dialogue which lies in the passage 49a-c and (2) to present a translation of Platos Crito from the original text in Greek into Portuguese. With relation to the translation, it is interspersed with notes and commentaries whose intentions are: (a) to explain my understanding of the functions performed by the particles, which are plentiful in the text; (b) to clarify the syntax of the passages I considered more difficult; (c) to give support to some choices I adopted in the translation; (d) to explain some references to names, places and passages of other works mentioned in the original text; and, finally, (e) to point out some passages of the Crito with which I do not deal in this dissertation, but which are objects of study and discussion among the commentators on Plato. With relation to the passage 49a-c, Socrates proposes in it a principle that limits the retaliation in response to an injustice suffered. The study I intended to perform consists (a) in pointing out some ambiguities in the formulation of this principle and (b) in analyzing the interpretations of this passage performed by three important commentators on Plato.