Abstract

My aim in this paper is to correct Hume's gloss of the Crito both for the historical purpose of enhancing our understanding of the dialogue and for the philosophical aim of illuminating the grounds of morality and moral community. My thesis is that both Hume and Plato are sensitive to the human condition, which is manifestly a condition of inter- dependence, which means that rational, free, informed acceptance of a government depends on some government's prior parentalism.