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Socrates Vs Plato

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In his book “the Republic”, the Greek philosopher and mathematician Plato (348/347 BCE) attempts to define justice, the order and character of the just-state and the just man. In “the Republic”, Plato represents his thoughts along with the thoughts of various other Athenian philosophers; one of significance is his precursor and mentor the classical Greek philosopher Socrates. See figure 1. The book contains discussions concerning the meaning of justice and examinations in regards to the pursuit of goodness and weather or not the just man is happier than the unjust man.
By examining the nature of existent regimes and considering a series of different hypothetically existent states, the participants along with Socrates, put forth many features …show more content…

In the book of the “the Republic”, as Socrates begins to define the economical condition in which the proposed government’s guardians will live, he suggests that they shouldn’t be allowed to have any personal property beyond what’s absolutely necessary. The state would provide the rulers with all their worldly needs.
In the many ways a state can decay, corruption is seen as the evilest. As the Austrian writer and journalist once put it: “Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual; the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.” Even thought the word corruption can be defined in many ways, one way corruption occurs is when the leading class acts out of it’s own self-interest as opposed to the interest of the …show more content…

By having a recognized amount of funds and materials allocated to each member of the ruling class, any increase in the financial status of a member would be seen as anomalous and cause of suspicion. Hence should a member acquire, for example, a new car, this would be plainly obvious as a result of corruption. Also, by this knowledge of how easily one’s bribes can be seen, the stated measures also act as deterrents for any possible corruption by those in

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In this paper I will argue that Socrates’s argument at 50a-b of the Crito would be not harming his fellow citizens by breaking the laws. Based on the readings from Plato’s The Five Dialogues, I will go over the reasoning of Socrates’ view on the good life. I will then discuss the three arguments Crito has for Socrates regarding his evasion of the death sentence including the selfish, the practicality, and the moral arguments. I will deliberate an objection to the argument and reply to the objections made in the paper and conclude with final thoughts. Socrates argues in the Crito that he should not escape or disobey the law because it is unethical.

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Thrasymachus Definition Of Justice In Plato's The Republic

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In the Republic, Plato confers with other philosophers about the true definition of justice. Cephalus, Polemarchus, and Thrasymachus relay their theories on justice to Plato, when he inquires as to what justice is. Cephalus believes only speaking the truth and paying one’s debts is the correct definition of justice (The Republic, Book I). However, Plato refutes this with an example of a friend who has lost his wits and would be caused harm by repayment of a debt. This leads to Polemarchus’ view on justice, doing harm to one’s enemies and helping one’s friends.

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What is justice? This is the crucial question that Plato attempts to answer in his dialogue, The Republic. He conjures up an allegory that justice can be found in a person, and a person can represent a city. Thus, his entire dialogue focuses on this ‘just’ city and the mechanics of how the city would operate. His dialogue covers a myriad of topics about justice in addition to the human soul, politics, goodness and truth.

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In Book IV of Plato’s Republic, Socrates and his peers come to the conclusion that a city is going to need people who have an understanding of what justice should be. Socrates at the end of Book IV can make the difference between individual, political, and social justice. He knows that individual and political justice is so much in common because they both weigh in heavy on truth, honor, and appetitive soul. That appetitive soul is an element that helps the secure the just community with love and support.

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