Contending that Plato's "Crito" does not show an allegiance between Socrates and the state that condemned him, Weiss argues that he considers the laws of the state to be more concerned with creating deference than justice - that, by submitting to his judgement, Socrates acts from a personal sense of justice rather than a set of imposed rules.

"The classical, philosophical, and literary reader will find here a refreshing (and relatively new) approach to a Platonic work, reading the dialogue as a dialogue, with close attention to the text in all its aspects. Pupils and students should be encouraged to study this book as an example of a careful and sensitive reading of an ancient work. One can only wish for more of its kind."--The Classical Outlook "Socrates Dissatisfied resolves a multitude of particular difficulties and poses important objections to competing interpretations of the Crito that have long ruled the roost. Weiss offers an especially original analysis of the argument Socrates makes as to why he should not attempt to escape from jail and avoid the death penalty. Her methodological approach to the dialogue is to take Socratic rhetoric and the dialogue form seriously, by acknowledging how the inequality between Socrates and Crito compels Socrates to use means other than straightforward logical argument in order to persuade his interlocutor. Socrates Dissatisfied is exemplary in its clarity of exposition and finely-discriminated argument. No Plato scholar can afford to ignore its challenge."--John Ferrari, University of California, Berkeley "Weiss's book makes a landmark contribution to Socratic studies quaPlatonic studies."--Times Literary Supplement "Weiss displays a superb knowledge of the enormous secondary literature on the Crito, and she has a keen ability to pick out and exploit the weak spots in the positions staked out by her opponents. . . . the book is filled with clever and complicated arguments that send the reader time and again back to the text. It forces the reader to rethink what had been settled, and for that alone the reader will be in the author's debt."--Ancient Philosophy "This is the first book-length argument of its kind and it supersedes all previous attempts in its persuasiveness and its thorough and detailed treatment: sensitive not only to the dialogue's Greek and argumentative structure, but also to its literary/characterological nuances, it establishes an important scholarly outpost on the interpretation of the Crito . . . written in a remarkably engaging, clean and effective style . . . provocative and impressive . . . It is sure to be a guidepost for all future investigations of the Crito.--Journal of the History of Philosophy "...a well-reasoned contribution to the literature."--Polis "...I find much to admire in Weiss book. Her interpretation of the Crito is as detailed and thorough as any that exists. Her attention to the text is meticulous, and her discussion of the secondary literature is full and fair. Anyone who tries to understand the Crito must come to terms with Socrates Dissatisfied."--Book Reviews "The classical, philosophical, and literary reader will find here a refreshing (and relatively new) approach to a Platonic work, reading the dialogue as a dialogue, with close attention to the text in all its aspects. Pupils and students should be encouraged to study this book as an example of a careful and sensitive reading of an ancient work. One can only wish for more of its kind."--The Classical Outlook "Socrates Dissatisfied resolves a multitude of particular difficulties and poses important objections to competing interpretations of the Crito that have long ruled the roost. Weiss offers an especially original analysis of the argument Socrates makes as to why he should not attempt to escape from jail and avoid the death penalty. Her methodological approach to the dialogue is to take Socratic rhetoric and the dialogue form seriously, by acknowledging how the inequality between Socrates and Crito compels Socrates to use means other than straightforward logical argument in order to persuade his interlocutor. Socrates Dissatisfied is exemplary in its clarity of exposition and finely-discriminated argument. No Plato scholar can afford to ignore its challenge."--John Ferrari, University of California, Berkeley "Weiss's book makes a landmark contribution to Socratic studies quaPlatonic studies."--Times Literary Supplement "Weiss displays a superb knowledge of the enormous secondary literature on the Crito, and she has a keen ability to pick out and exploit the weak spots in the positions staked out by her opponents. . . . the book is filled with clever and complicated arguments that send the reader time and again back to the text. It forces the reader to rethink what had been settled, and for that alone the reader will be in the author's debt."--Ancient Philosophy "This is the first book-length argument of its kind and it supersedes all previous attempts in its persuasiveness and its thorough and detailed treatment: sensitive not only to the dialogue's Greek and argumentative structure, but also to its literary/characterological nuances, it establishes an important scholarly outpost on the interpretation of the Crito . . . written in a remarkably engaging, clean and effective style . . . provocative and impressive . . . It is sure to be a guidepost for all future investigations of the Crito.--Journal of the History of Philosophy "There is much to praise about this book: Weiss's attention to the details of Plato's text, her persuasive distinction between Socrates's position and that of the laws, her generous citation of secondary literature both allied and opposed to her interpretation."--International Philosophical Quarterly "...a genuinely valuable contribution to the literature on the Crito....[Weiss's] work on the dialogue has set a standard for others to follow."--Classical Philology "This remarkable book has a challenging title and argument...this is a very satisfying and searching Socratic study."--The Classical Review