What Is The Creation And Examination Of A Metaphorical City

When considering how to define justice, the creation and examination of a metaphorical city is certainly not the first method that comes to mind. It’s probably not even in the top ten. In Reeve’s Eight Essential Dialogues, Socrates demonstrates the creation and examination of said city. Not only are readers introduced to Socrates, but they get to observe the reactions and arguments from his audience at the time. His extended metaphor of the city tends to create obscurity, requires a lot of clarification, and leaves much to be desired. Socrates’ use of the city metaphor is so extended and convoluted that overall, it tends to confuse the readers rather than providing the intended clarity.

The city metaphor is a product entirely of Socrates himself.

On multiple occasions they require clarification or an elaboration from Socrates. It is not just on concepts they are unable understand, but they often disagree with him or require a whole additional metaphor in order to understand the comparison Socrates is attempting to make. In one instance Socrates makes a statement regarding courage in the city and it makes very little sense, so Glaucon informs Socrates that he did “not completely understand what [he] said” and asks if Socrates would “mind repeating it?” (429c). Of course, Socrates furthers the explanation for Glaucon, but it takes an additional thirty-seven lines and a metaphor about dying wool for Glaucon to understand and accept this definition. All of that seems excessive, especially just to define courage in the city. Originally, Glaucon was not just confused, but he didn’t understand at all. Meaning the concept that Socrates was arguing is so far out of the scope of any normal person’s thoughts that Glaucon could not even manage to grasp what he meant. This is not the only time that one of the members of Socrates’ audience has felt they needed clarification in regard to the city. It happens multiple times throughout the metaphor. Several times in each book those listening to Socrates ask questions or ask him to explain himself more thoroughly. Socrates’ city does not evoke clarity at all, at least not if it is to be judged by the audience’s reaction to his