Justice In Glaucon's Three Kinds Of Goods

In an attempt to amass an overall consensus of justice being desirable as a benefit to the health of the soul, and the necessity placed on maintaining its ideals as a virtue (as expressed by Socrates to resolve Thrasymachus 's definition); Glaucon extends his argument of justice to include the concept of the Three Kinds of Goods. As explained, all goods can be divided into three classes: as a mere means such as physical labor, as an end akin to joy, and as both a means and an end comparable to maintaining knowledge (book ii). Although an advocate for the belief that justice is coveted both as a means and an end, Glaucon alludes that most individuals classify justice under the first group: justice is no more than a mere means. He continues to elaborate on the idea that justice is viewed as a necessary evil, and that it is only maintained in order to

With this thought, Glaucon begins to list the benefits that stem from living a just life, illustrating the lavish lifestyle one will receive when in Hades. He then further explains that virtue will be received from the gods for continuing generations to those who lived piously. In contrast, those who live impiously will suffer negative penalties, and will receive from the gods what is not given to the just. In an attempt to restructure the argument, , Glaucon contends that justice and moderation are attainable, however, onerous to achieve, while injustice is easy to attain and more profitable, but is vilified only in opinion and law when compared to the former (40). By associating justice with the weak and poverty stricken and injustice with power and wealth, it is implicated that the first is disregarded by society, and the last is honored