Socrates and Justice

Book One of Plato’s Republic begins with a scene that depicts two men, Socrates and Glaucon, walking on their way out of town to pray to the goddess Bendis and observe the festival dedicated to her. On their way out of town they are ordered to stop by Polemarchus. Excited by this chance for conversation, Socrates gladly obliges and stops for Polemarchus. The men begin talking about old age and money and the positives and negatives associated with both. This in turn leads to the topic of fairness and justice. Socrates begins to question Cephalus, Polemarchus’ father who believes he understands the meaning of justice. Cephalus explains that justice is simply, “speaking the truth and giving back what one takes.� (331 C) Whether this is the correct definition of justice or not, Socrates, through a series of questions refutes Cephalus’ statement saying that
“if someone asserts that it’s just to give what is owed to each man-and he understands by this that harm is owed to enemies by the just man and help to friends-the man who said it was not wise. For he wasn’t telling the truth. For it has become apparent to us that it is never just to harm anyone.� (335 D)
Then, Socrates maintains that it is apparent that



	Socrates' mental journey to finding what justice is. .... is in moderation. After coming up with moderation, all that was left for Socrates in the city was justice. He realizes that for .... (362 1 )

	Socrates .... invalidate the Socratic argument. Socrates sees justice as the primary ethical virtue. Having already declared the impossibility .... (1394 6 )

	Socrates .... Glaucon tells this story to refute Socrates ' claim that justice is a virtue that is better in and of itself than injustice. By .... (1667 7 )

	Justice .... He chose death by drinking hemlock. Most of what we know about Socrates and his ideas of justice we learn through his student, Plato. (373 1 )

	Law and Justice .... He chose death by drinking hemlock. Most of what we know about Socrates and his ideas of justice we learn through his student, Plato. .... (421 2 )

It is now time for Socrates to land the killing blow and to prove to wise and mighty Thrasymachus that he is no wiser than ignorant Socrates. The key question is now asked by Socrates. “But it is not profitable to be wretched; rather it is profitable to be happy.” Again, still unaware of his approaching demise, Thrasymachus agrees. “Then, my blessed Thrasymachus, injustice is never more profitable than justice,” (354 A) states Socrates. With this statement, Thrasymachus seems to not only to lack a clear definition of justice but he has also contradicted his main argument, that it is more profitable to be unjust than just.

Socrates, astounded by this comment, flatters Thrasymachus with the title of “best of men” and then answers that he cannot begin to answer a question that he has no answers for. He then persuades Thrasymachus, who believes he has a good answer, to give his opinions on the meaning of justice. Thrasymachus states that, “just is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger.” (338 B) Through this claim Thrasymachus asserts that he who is in power decides what is right and what is wrong. Socrates challenges that sometimes a just ruler must do that which is disadvantageous to himself in order to do justice to his servants. For a truly just ruler must not rule his subjects for personal gain, but must make personal sacrifices for the good of his subjects.

Thrasymachus, who was listening up to this point, is angered by Socrates’ tactics and the result of the previous conversation. Thrasymachus asks,

“If you truly want to know what the just is, don’t only ask and gratify your love of honor by refuting whatever someone answers-you know that it is easier to ask tha

Some topics in this essay:
Virtue, Plato, Justice, Meaning Of Life, Question, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Argument, Polemarchus, Cephalus,

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PROFESSIONAL ESSAYS:

Thrasymachus and Socrates .... Socrates also makes Thrasymachus admit that justice is the soul's "excellence" and injustice its "defect" and that the soul of one who lives in a defect will .... (585 2 )

Socrates on the Nature of the City-State .... It follows, as Socrates shows, that if justice consists in whatever is in the ruler's interest, justice is then defined for most as being for the good of .... (1640 7 )

Justice in Plato's Republic The plan of the research will be to set forth Socrates's basic argument for the defense of justice, an explanation of what it is, and then to discuss whether .... (1367 5 )

Socrates and Crito .... honor. Socrates, however, does not identify personal honor with entitlements and dignity but rather with justice and virtue. That .... (602 2 )

The Heroic Ideal: Plato and Socrates .... view. Plato seems to be arguing that men are heroic when they act like Socrates does, seeking truth and justice at all costs. When .... (1285 5 )

Socrates' Argument in Crito .... manner. However, Socrates argues that the virtue of the soul leading to happiness is justice and its defect is injustice. He believes .... (815 3 )

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