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 ... 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 ju...

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• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Outline Part IX: Imperfect Societies 1. Recapitulation Socrates and Glaucon briefly review the traits of the ideal state. The salient points are that men and women should be equal in education and occupations. Further they should be governed by those rare individuals who are best at philosophy and war. These philosopher rulers shall not possess private property and shall accept their annual wages as sufficient for acting as Guardians of the state. Adeimantus expresses interest in having Socrates expand on his previous allusion to four types of states or societies. The four are named as the Cre...

• Word Count: 2235
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... them live more unjustly. Therefore, harming someone, even your enemy, would be unjust because it creates more injustice. He also disagree with Thrasymachus" statement that justice is "nothing other than the advantage of the stronger" (Republic 338c). These are examples of Socrates response to someone else's idea. Socrates never opens with his own ideas. He merely questions the ideas of others, and ... more appropriate for you to answer, since you say that you know and can tell us" (Republic 337e). He also says that not only does he not know what justice is, but he is also "incapable of ...

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• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... term. It could not merely give reference to the notion of, but would have to give meaning to the notion itself. II. Plato's idea of a virtuous, excellently functioning individual was outlined with great detail, while in pursuit of justice, in his writings collectively called the Republic. His writings usually consisted of dialogue between fellow philosophers in order to give each perspective a voice. The ... , spirited, and rational. Plato, through his characters, then went on to discuss strength and unity, excellent function, and health and happiness within the individual. Using the thr...

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• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Through the reading of Plato's Republic and Hume's An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals the reader can see many conflicts in ideas such as the idea between Thrasymachus and Hume on Justice. Thrasymachus believes that justice is simply the advantage of the stronger, ruling class. (Plato 14) Hume on the other hand believes that justice is significant for its usefulness. For example, if there were a society ... class be given an excess of the things they need. This would leave little or none for the lesser people so the justice is not useful to them. (Plato 15) On the other hand if Hum...

• Word Count: 477
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School