Justice In Book I Of The Republic Essay -- essays research papers

The Republic of Plato begins in a similar fashion that compositiony other Platonic dialogues begin, with that of a question. The conversation between Socrates and the aged Cephalus becomes a philosophical discussion of what advantages money has brought to Cephalus life. Cephalus replies that money has allowed him "to tell the truth and stomach ones debts" (331 b). Nevertheless, Socrates believes this does not portray an accurate description of what justice is. The rest of the introductory book is a discussion of the definition of justice, mainly that of Thrasymachus definition. Socrates takes his normal fiber as an interrogator of peoples views. The conversation focuses on justice but truly must be viewed in the context of how each individual mess lead the best life possible.     Thrasymachus states that "justice is simply the interest of the stronger" (338 c). In order to support this notion, he states that people who are in tycoon in gove rnment make laws, and since these people design these laws, they will set the interests of themselves. The laws will then be the justice of the subjects, and since the ruling class could be restated as the stronger class, then justice could be stated as macrocosm in the interests of the stronger class. He goes on further to say that the unjust man is stronger than the just man is, and because of that, justice is a vice while loss is a virtue. Thrasymachus uses the example of private business to show how ...