How does one know who is friend or enemy? Furthermore, can an action be good or bad, and what does that mean? Through analogies Socrates examines the veracity of the other the philosophers definitions of justice. He discusses the "good life" and agrees maybe justice is virtue and wisdom. Justice, as understood by Socrates, is not only a social virtue, having to do only with relationships of the world, but also an all-inclusive virtue that can give a man ability to build himself up and reach true happiness. .
Uncertain if they can ever arrive at an acceptable definition of justice any other way, Socrates proposes they construct a State in which they approve of, and see if they might find the truth of justice lurking somewhere inside it. This would be a society that would uphold his ideals. Consequently, the men go on about the State that would meet the needs of all mankind. There would be rulers; the philosophers and thinkers that would make the decisions and should be trained in temperance, doing good at all times. Then would come guardians who would be the military, or auxiliary, and he believes they must be instilled with good morals. Then would come others that specialize in specific trades. He also talks about censoring any sort of tales that depict injustice triumphing over the just. This is Socrates/Plato's class society in which the rulers are expected to uphold the "royal lie" that ensures the loyalty of the citizens. Socrates believes in order to keep this society going it would be necessary and perfectly okay to lie and still be just. His society will be instilled with four essential virtues; wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice- each with it's own purpose. After all the discussion of this perfect society they come to terms with its reality. Would this ever really come about? Certainly not. However, many authors have written about utopian societies in which the first point of reference came about from Plato.
