ipl-logo

Thrasymachus Definition Of Justice In Plato's Republic

1302 Words6 Pages

In Book One of Plato’s Republic, Socrates begins his quest for the meaning of justice. In engaging his friends in philosophical discussions on the simple questions, “What is justice?” and “Is it always better to be just than unjust?” Socrates comes to the realization that the answer is not simple, but complex in that justice to one person can be injustice to another. The aged Cephalus says money has given him advantages in life and allowed him “to tell the truth and pay one’s debts (331 b). But Socrates believes this is an inaccurate portrait of what justice is. The discussion that follows of the definition of justice is between the opposing views of Thrasymachus and Socrates. This paper will argue that Thrasymachus’ definition of justice is incoherent and invalid through the examination and explanation of Socrates’ rebuttals as well as the opposing arguments made by both men and provide commentary to support agreement or disagreement with the argument discussed. …show more content…

It’s his belief justice exists only in the form that benefits the ruler or the one in charge, and anyone in charge has the ability to alter the meaning of justice if the change serves their best interests (343c). Thrasymachus follows with a good example in support of his claim stating that a man who wants to succeed is willing to cheat and be unjust and as a result, he will be the best and will be better than the just man (343d). He uses the example of how the unjust man gains more than a just man because the just man pays his taxes and would not try to take advantage of others. Therefore injustice prevails over the just who are the

Show More
Related
342 Words | 2 Pages

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

Read More
436 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
1118 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More
990 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
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,

Read More
1371 Words | 6 Pages

Thrasymachus’s proposed statement that cities are unjust because the stronger rule the weaker to the advantage of the stronger is false because he, in fact, is arguing the opposite: it is just for the stronger to rule the weaker to the advantage of the stronger(Plato). My first argument for why the above statement is false is Thrasymachus’s claim that justice is the advantage of the established rule. This claim supports my reasoning for why the statement is false because an established rule requires strength; therefore, the advantage of the established rule is in fact the advantage of the stronger. An established rule does not come from the weak, as the weak are unable to impose their will upon the strong, which further enhances the idea that

Read More
284 Words | 2 Pages

Atticus Finch's character I think is good because of the way he treats his kids, the way he reacts to violence and the way he refuses to treat anyone any different than the next person especially black people and during this time that is not something you would normally see. especially not a black man who was wrongly accused of rape like and ended up dying to cover a white woman's lie like tom robinson did. I think that in the book that is the number one thing that makes him different and have a good character even though everyone poked and spit at him for it he still defended tom robinson the best he could even though it was really a lost cause which is more than anyone else would have ever done for him. I also think atticus finch is

Read More
732 Words | 3 Pages

Finally, Socrates claims that the unjust man is ignorant, weak and bad. Socrates argument is effective in the way that he does not shatter Thrasymachus’ argument without reason, he is given many examples that change his way of thinking. Thrasymachus is told to put his ‘set in stone’ ideas under different situations, and once he does, he can clearly see that he should not have been so stubborn, as soon as he does so, he can see that his arguments aren’t suited to all situations. By the end of the argument, Thrasymachus isn’t so much debating the definition of justice, as he is defining the required traits to be a ruler of

Read More
1434 Words | 6 Pages

In this essay, I will present an argument that shows that Plato will convince Socrates to reconsider his decision to receive the death sentence. Plato would show Socrates that his three reasons for staying to receive his sentence is unjust because his action is fuelled by injustice. I will also show that Socrates will agree with Plato about the unjust consequences that his actions may bring after Plato reasons why Socrates is doing an injustice. Finally, Plato would then proceed to show Socrates that his decision to stay cannot result in happiness and justice which in turn will cause Socrates to re-evaluate accepting his death sentence according to his own ideals of a happy and just life.

Read More
1382 Words | 6 Pages

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)

Read More
1169 Words | 5 Pages

Socrates say’s this cannot be true because most of the people in this world make mistakes in judging who the real friends are and who the enemies are. Thrasymachus’s impression of justice is that the stronger person decides what justice is. Thrasymachus definition of justice raises two questions which needed clarification. First question is what exactly

Read More
763 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
1470 Words | 6 Pages

One of the potentially faulty arguments Socrates uses to ponder Thrasymachus’ definition of justice involves considering injustice within a single person. In other words, this means thinking about conflict within an individual’s “soul”. In his treatment of Thrasymachus’ position that

Read More
660 Words | 3 Pages

In book two Socrates says that he has broken down and analyzed many different arguments of justice yet he still cannot define it, and as a result he says “so long as I do not know what the just is,

Read More
1489 Words | 6 Pages

Death: America’s Number One Skirted Subject Death has evolved into a taboo over the last few centuries in America. Recent research proves that Americans are increasingly becoming more involved with value of self-image. Over the last few decades, youth and beauty have become expectations. Americans are becoming more egotistical and aging is viewed with a negative connotation.

Read More

More about Thrasymachus Definition Of Justice In Plato's Republic

Related Topics

Open Document