Should You Care About What The Majority Thinks? | Crito by Plato

While awaiting execution, Socrates’ friend Crito tries to convince him to escape. Crito is worried that if Socrates doesn’t come with him, that the masses will think that Crito let his friend die when he had the means to help him. Socrates refuses to escape and tells Crito that he shouldn’t care for what the majority thinks.
He uses physical training as an example. If you wanted to get fit, would you really consider the opinion of the majority or would you rather consider the opinion of an expert like a doctor or trainer? Crito agrees that the “wise” opinion should hold more value than the majority opinion, and Socrates then is able to relate this to justice.
In our world, however, the internet has led to a flood of different opinions and many people claiming to be experts. What happens when the experts disagree, or worse, we can’t even tell who the experts are? In super rare cases where we can’t figure all of this out and we must make a decision, perhaps then the majority opinion could provide some limited practicality.
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[@studentjohn]

My take: Knowing and understanding the majority opinion is worthwhile, even if it's wrong. So it's not to be dismissed or un-valued, as right or wrong it can have a powerful effect. And the majority of people are.... well, people - creatures capable of applying rational thought (within limits) and reaching a consensus based on shared (therefore common) experiences. So, at least within the limits of relatively simple matters, where our instincts and assumptions (which, let's face it, is what we use first, then reason after) can be fairly valid, majority opinion probably has a better than even chance of getting things right enough to be useful - that is to say: Of developing a useful, if imperfect, working model. That's not the same as finding The Truth, but I bet The Truth is a complicated philosophy discussion itself. I'll take a working model that is useful within certain limits. And, even where it's outright wrong, knowing the majority opinion, and why it is what it is, is still worthwhile - so it still shouldn't be outright ignored.

[@shikhardwivedi9325]

Hey man... Superb vid... Keep it up❤

[@i235njoyer]

Perhaps we should also mention the societal (? aspect of the majoritys opinion, which to me is what people are worried about many times, when something is frowned upon by the most and this affects your standing. Even if the majority is at odds with justice or truth and you against the grain your standing will be affected which is ultimately what happened here. Why did Socrates drink the hemlock in the end? Was he not conforming to the peoples veredict by doing so? After all he was considered the wisest by the oracle of deflos, which he later agreed with.

[@MSHNKTRL]

If you have any sense of value, it was imparted to you via per-existing cultures. even that thought of how you regard this comment is solely dictated by somebody else's opinion. To be free of majority opinion, there is a prior requirement of never having perceived opinion. Some people believe that they have circumvented this, but IMHO, that's just their opinion. Man.

[@tathagatquandaliusganesh1082]

In my opinion , there are some cases where majority of people could be wrong but not always. We should allow our own unique thoughts pervade society but in some cases we should abide in some views of the majority.

[@jaydenclowers2616]

The majority of people adhere to a moral code, a set of manners that they deem to be the way a person must abide by. The opinions of the majority should be questioned extendedly and you should think about the subject your seeking opinions about. Thinking differently than the majority can give you another way of thinking about that subject. Thinking differently about it can allow you go beyond those set boundaries by the majority.

[@PhilosophyToons]

Never stop questioning and thinking, I agree.

[@osks]

Is that your opinion?