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Plato theory of justice
Examine the nature of justice in Plato's republic
Socrates understanding of justice
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Plato theory of justice
Examine the nature of justice in Plato's republic
Socrates understanding of justice
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Plato and Iris Young have different perspectives on justice. Plato argues that justice is doing one's own work for which one is best suited for, and not to meddle with other's work outside your class. Iris Young through her "The Myth of Merit" argues that a society in which equal opportunity exists is just. I reject Plato's view, and I side with Iris Young for reasons she does not explicitly mention.
In Plato’s Republic, Thrasymachus presented several arguments in favor of the position that “Might makes right.” Presenting his first argument, he stated “Listen, then. I say justice is nothing other than what is advantageous for the stronger.” By the stronger, he meant the people who establish the rules in the country. Thrasymachus explained that any type of government, as it could be democracy or tyranny, has its own rules and the person who doesn’t obey to those rules will be considered unjust and therefore punished.
The forth crime that was charged was, disbelief ‘in the gods of the city.’ This charge is a result from the first charge of being ‘a natural philosopher.’ He indeed did not believe in any of the Olympian deities. He may have gotten out of this one if he praised any god and paid tribute to them, but he did not. Because he didn’t, he had committed treason.
King and Socrates both appeal to a higher notion of justice that they see as universal and uninfluenced by the people’s opinions. It is important, however, to note that in King’s view, majority-minority politics inform our interpretation of this standard of justice. Although the majority-minority dynamic plays no role in the formulation of this standard which, as a “law of God,” is predetermined, in King’s view this dynamic informs our application of the
In Plato’s, The Republic, Book I, Socrates tries to prove to Thrasymachus “whether just people also live better and are happier than unjust ones” (352d). He argues that everything has a predisposed proficiency at a function, and that this functions are performed well by the peculiar virtue and badly by means of its vice (353a-353d) . The point of this paper is to present Socrates argument and evaluate it to the best of my ability. This argument can be categorized as an inductive generalization. Socrates states that the function of anything is what it alone can do or what it does best.
At the end of Book I of Plato’s Republic, Socrates attempts to persuade Thrasymachus that the just lead a happier and more flourishing life than the unjust (354a). He argues that justice is the virtue of the soul, which allows the soul to perform its ergon, or function, with excellence. Because the soul’s function is to live, justice allows the soul to live with excellence. In this paper, I shall present and critically examine Socrates’ reasoning behind this conclusion. The argument subtly commits the fallacy of equivocation because the term function is ambiguous.
Bothered by Socrates’ logic, Thrasymachus presents a revised version of his previous argument. Thrasymachus says that injustice is stronger than justice and that it most definitely results in a happier life. The example he uses (of a powerful dictator who is made happy through injustice is a reference to his earlier example that justice is used to the advantage of the stronger). Thrasymachus has not greatly changed the principle of his argument, just using alternate examples.
PHIL-401A: Writing Assignment #2 In the second book of the The Republic by Plato, Socrates, ancient Greek philosopher and mentor of the author, attempts to define justice with the help of Adeimantus, and Glaucon. Socrates suggests beginning the expedition by first identifying justice within a city to then hopefully identify justice within a single individual. In order to effectively commence the search for justice within a city, however, the group must explore the birth of cities. The passage of concern is section 369b - 369d with Socrates and Adeimantus as the main interlocutors where Plato argues that cities are formed from need, more specifically basic needs.
Socrates believes that justice benefits the just, but also benefits the city (other people) too. He is faced with a seemingly simple choice, escape Athens or remain in prison and be sentenced to death. Socrates’ central argument against escaping his circumstances is twofold. First, Socrates argues that “one must never do wrong.” (49b)
The Republic, by Plato provides us with four different definitions of justice which are given by the four characters Cephalus, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus, and Glaucon. According to Cephalus, the definition of justice includes the laws and repaying one’s creditors. Socrates doesnot agree to the idea that of repayment of creditors as always to be a good idea. The second person to define Justice was Polymarchus, the son of Cephalus. In his opinion, justice is defined as helping your friends and harming your rivals.
In Plato’s The Republic” written in 380 BC, Plato introduces two characters Polemarchus and Thrasymachus who hold two separate opinions on Justice. They both are made to give their own opinions on Justice by Socrates. Both standpoints accurately represent Justice in sirtain situations. The word justice can be represented in many ways because it holds a broad meaning. They are covering two completely different aspects of Justice.
Socrates believes that justice is the best life to live, but Glaucon is not satisfied by this answer and instead creates an improved defense of Thrasymachus’ argument that life of injustice is better than living a life of justice. Glaucon argues that people are just because it is convenient, it is a title that people have been taught to be, however, it is much easier to be unjust than just. Justice is set up like a competition in which the result is merely a compromise of the best and worst of a group of individuals. What constitutes something as just or not lies in the consequence. Justice is merely a system which is instrumentally valuable.
Plato’s Republic examines many concepts that make up an ideal state, the biggest being how justice affects the structure of society as well as the human nature of an individual. In Book Two, Glaucon states that the only reason that justice exists is because people are afraid to act on unjust thoughts. He argues that if no one was afraid to act on these thoughts, then no one would be just. Glaucon’s brother Adeimantus adds on to this argument, stating that appearing to be just is better than actually being just. He adds that the unjust person who is able to maintain their reputation of being just will also be happier than the just person.
The concept of the Noble Lie is presented by Plato in the Republic. In Republic, Plato is engaged in creating an ideal political community, through the noble lie. The Noble Lie, ironically, despite being a lie, is still recognized as ‘noble’ by Plato since it aims to promote social welfare and harmony amongst the citizens. Plato’s idea of the noble lie led to the division of citizens into three distinct categories, namely, the rulers, the auxiliaries and the workmen . This paper will argue that Socrates principle of the Noble Lie must be considered justifiable under circumstances in which it intends to achieve moral ends.
Some Thoughts on the question of Justice The nature of justice was a major theme in the republic and Socrates define what the nature of justice is. Socrates scrutinizes the nature of justice in both the individual and the city. In the republic, he links justice with the human soul structure and the social structures of the city. Justice in the individual is said to be when the rational soul controls both the emotions and the appetitive soul.