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Plato's Argument

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Plato’s argument begins with an investigation into the meaning of justice. He begins by deriving a definition through the analysis of a city. The dialogue implies that he will use this definition to locate the justice of the individual later on (Plato’s Republic—Selections 3). Plato’s ideal city originates as a way to satisfy human needs. A population will adopt the Principle of Specialization (in which each person performs the task to which they are best suited) to maximize the production of goods and meet the needs of the community (Brown sec 4.1). As this society develops, it will break apart and form a natural hierarchy. Thus, Plato presents justice is a structural concept. In the ideal state, there exists a three-fold division of classes.
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