Socrates Value Of Justice Essay

Words: 1582

Pages: 7

Open Document

In the Republic, does Socrates prove that it pays to be just?

In a dialogue with Thrasymachus, Polermarchus, Glaucon, and Adeimantus in Plato’s The Republic, Socrates radically attempts to prove that it pays to be just, since, justice is good in itself as well as for its consequences. This dialogue holds much significance, because, what people understand justice to be matters a great deal to their past and present life. In this, Socrates turns to psychic health to define justice and splits it up into three parts: the spirited, the appetitive and the rational. He maintains that justice lies in the harmony of the psyche when lead by reason, and, with this account of justice in hand, Socrates proceeds to offer three "proofs" to show that justice is valuable for its own sake. Successively, Socrates goes on to present The Forms to exhibit how a Socratic good equates to the conventional definition of justice. Nevertheless, whether Socrates proves that it pays to be just is debatable. In this paper, I will confront and critically assess Socrates’s ideas, but, I will argue that his attempt to define and show the value of justice is ineffective. …show more content…
He asserts that the psyche is composed of the rational, the spirited and the appetitive. These three parts of the psyche also correspond to the three classes of a society - whether in a city or an individual, justice is declared to be the state of the whole in which each part satisfies its meaning without attempting to restrict in the meanings of others. In the tripartite theory of the soul, Socrates divides the rational from the non-rational by using the intuitive principle of opposition. This is the idea that “at the same time, in the same respect, and in relation to the same thing—undergo, be, or do opposite things” (essentially, this is the idea that nothing can have opposite properties at the same

Plato Essay

that Socrates had much to say on the topic of political philosophy. Central to his political theory was his position on how citizens ought to approach ethics and politics. In the Apology, Socrates' conduct demonstrates his belief that citizens must not be complacent when it comes to political virtue. In order to push citizens out of complacency, Socrates used a method called the “elecnhus” to prod citizens to discover the true definition of virtues (Jowett, 2009). In doing this, Socrates hoped…

Words 2327 - Pages 10

PLATO CRITO Kimberly Benjamin Essay

Diversity Essay # 1 Is it ever permissible to break the law when you’re accused of an injustice law? To some individuals it is okay to break the law in certain circumstances because not all laws are in place to protect us, but there is a thin line between what is wrong and what is right. In The Trail and Death of Socrates, Socrates refused to escape from jail even though it would mean saving his life. One should live rightly, he believed. In this paper I will analysis how Socrates reach the outcome…

Words 1196 - Pages 5

Essay about Life and Death of Socrates

Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and sentenced to die for his beliefs. From the writings of his followers that were preserved, he was portrayed as accepting of this punishment because he truly thought what he believed was right. The trial of Socrates proved to be an important part in history, impacting the development of Western Philosophy and allowing the beliefs of Socrates to live on to this day. Socrates’ life, trial, and death are all important parts of history and coincide…

Words 2899 - Pages 12

Essay about Socrates the Greek Philosopher

Kim Vallade HUMN-211-01, 02 Essay October 5, 2014 Socrates is an important Greek philosopher known for his teaching method which consists of doing nothing but asking questions, otherwise known as the teaching method to keep people thinking on their own. Socrates is from Athens Greece who actively participated in democracy, which included his military service during the polyponnesian war. He is also not known so much for wrote he wrote due to the fact he never wrote anything down, but more for the…

Words 986 - Pages 4

Plato's Intillation Of Platonic Love And Mental Reproductionation

writing it, one can gain a better lens with which to interpret it's intended meaning, and subsequently judge its truth values. Some of the writing may be focused as a critique on the Athenian convention of Paiderastia, or the normal practive of teenage boys (erômenos, pais) taking on an older lover (erastês) whom is meant to instill virtue unto the young lover. Thus, Socrates' instillation of Platonic love and mental reproduction, and it's higher valuation of mental reproduction could be interpreted…

Words 2203 - Pages 9

Essay Notes for Exam 1

justifications are usually wrapped up in the law ‘Tests’ Voting rights act- Regulates how gov’t can restrict access to voter registration Purpose is that in a constructional democracy, right to vote is important… John S. Mill Starts out essay on liberty by talking about development of human freedom in relationship to the development of gov’t institutions, generally saying that for most of recorded history, the big problems for as far as gov’t intuitions (relationship of state to individual)…

Words 4671 - Pages 19

Plato’s Republic Essay

discussed in detail. As other masterpieces of Plato, the Republic is a book with beautiful language, extremely rich literary value. Reading this book, not only can be defined in question and answer, and refute the exercise philosophy thinking ability, in the process of delving into some important philosophical problem, and at the same time also can get a beautiful enjoyment. In this essay, I will try to point out one of Plato’s main points and his fallacy. People pursuits perfection, but reality…

Words 1598 - Pages 7

Plato's Division Of Labor

Academy was founded by him in Athens, a pioneering institution in Western world for higher learning. He was considered as an important personality who had contributed for the development of philosophy, mainly the western tradition. Plato was pupil of Socrates and master of Aristotle. These three are popularly known as Intellectual Trios who put foundations to Western Philosophy and Science. His famous writings are’ The Republic’ and ‘The Laws’. Plato’s works provide basis for analysing the origins of…

Words 1544 - Pages 7

Essay on Ethc-445 Principles of Ethics Final Exam Answers

ETHC-445 Principles of Ethics Final Exam Answers To Download This Tutorial Visit below Link http://www.studentsoffortunes.com/downloads/ethc-445-principles-of-ethics-final-exam-answers/ (Product Type) : Instant Downloadable We invite you to browse through our store and shop with confidence. We invite you to create an account with us if you like, or shop as a guest. Either way, your shopping cart will be active until you leave the store. All Tutorials will be E-mailed immediately…

Words 1968 - Pages 8

Philosophy 241 Lecture Note Essay

Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals; Kant's notorious essay "On a Supposed Right to Tell Lies." Contemporary reflections by existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre and African American philosophers Bernard Boxill, Laurence Thomas. 3. Virtue Ethics (a.k.a. Character Ethics): Aristotle, most of The Nicomachean Ethics. Contemporary reflections on anger by Marilyn Frye. 4. Varieties of Moral Skepticism, with a focus on Friedrich Nietzsche, essays 1 and 2 of his Genealogy of Morals. Kinds of philosophical…

Words 7807 - Pages 32