Paper's abstract

Michael Rosano, Private virtue, public morality and the Problem of Political Obligation in Plato's Crito
This paper argues that the vital and comprehensive analysis of the problematic relation between public morality and private virtue found in Plato's Crito has been rendered trivial by the tendency to disregard the dialogues dramatic structure and to accept dogmatically he opinion that the arguments Socrates gives to the Laws of Athens are his own. Close attention to the drama shows that Socrates' arguments aim at Crito's persuasion, and by analysing the relationship between Socrates and Crito, the relation between public morality and private virtue can then be brought to life.

Key Words : private, public, obligation, Plato, morality
t. 41, 1997 : p. 13-24

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