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Socrates Vs Plato

1001 Words5 Pages

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. To prove that a just person, who is treated poorly is truly happier than an unjust person treated well, …show more content…

After coming to the conclusion that everyone needs to be treated equal in order for their society to be functional, Socrates decides to examine the four types of government and how justice and injustice are formulated from these governments. These four governments are timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and tyranny. In a timocracy, men are obsessed with honor and will become ambitious of money and power. From this, the next form of government oligarchy is created. Oligarchy is a society where the rich are in control and rulers are chosen from wealth alone. The wealthy citizens in the oligarchy will give out money to the poorer ones and this will create democracy. In a democracy, everyone in a state is free and not obliged to give or take orders from anyone. Tyranny is a result of democracy because of the desire to be free. This desire for freedom turns into obsession which leads to people not wanting their freedom to be suppressed in any way. If there are limitations on their freedom, citizens will rebel against their ruler. Chaos will ensue and citizens will eventually stop following the rules. This is where tyranny arises. While the ruler is trying to maintain order, other men rise to power, promising the citizens change in their government. Once a tyrant gains support and popularity among the citizens he uses this to his advantage to get rid of people who threaten his power. Once he has done that, the tyrant forgets about all the promises that were made to the people and become

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the Republic, Socrates argues that justice ought to be valued both for its own sake and for the sake of its consequences (358a1–3). His interlocutors Glaucon and Adeimantus have reported a number of arguments to the effect that the value of justice lies purely in the rewards and reputation that are the usual consequence of being seen to be just, and have asked Socrates to say what justice is and to show that justice is always intrinsically better than is acting contrary to justice when doing so would win you more non-moral goods. Glaucon presents these arguments as renewing Thrasymachus’ Book 1 position that justice is “another’s good” (358b–c, cf. 343c), which Thrasymachus had associated with the claim that the rulers in any constitution frame

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The distinction between the ruled and the ruling class was created. Humanity was lost and the ruling class became crueler and enjoyed the power. The rulers became dictators.  People do not rebel against brutal dictators out offear -they are afraid of retribution if their rebellion fails, they do not know what atrocities the brutal dictator can do to them so they are afraid.  

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Russell Vs Socrates

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The first concept that I noticed shared by Russell and Socrates was the concept that one had to remove themselves before serious philosophical contemplation could take place. In Russell 's case, he refers to the "Self" and the "Not-Self". With Socrates, as seen in the Apology, confronting his accuser about the corruption of youth, his accuser is silent because he had not given the matter any thought. Socrates awareness of his own ignorance frees him from what Russell would refer to as "Self". I mention this because it serves as a common theme even as both philosophers differ in their messages.

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2106 Words | 9 Pages

Plato contests this view on justice because he believes doing harm to anyone would be an injustice. This theory leads to their conclusion the just man is one who is useful. Thrasymachus refers to justice in an egoistical manner, saying “justice is in the interest of the stronger” (The Republic, Book I). He believes injustice is virtuous and wise and justice is vice and ignorance, but Socrates disagrees with this statement as believes the opposing view. As a result of continual rebuttals against their arguments,

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732 Words | 3 Pages

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578 Words | 3 Pages

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661 Words | 3 Pages

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1355 Words | 6 Pages

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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943 Words | 4 Pages

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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Plato regarded justice as the true principle of social life. Plato in his day found a lot of evil in society. He saw unrighteousness rampant and injustice enthroned.

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Plato's Republic: Just Or Unjust?

832 Words | 4 Pages

Plato's Republic is centered on one simple question: is it always better to be just than unjust? This is something that Socrates addresses both in terms of political communities and the individual person. Plato argues that being just is advantageous to the individual independent of any societal benefits that the individual may incur in virtue of being just. I feel as if Plato’s argument is problematic. There are not enough compelling reasons to make this argument.

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1212 Words | 5 Pages

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984 Words | 4 Pages

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