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

The Republic of Plato begins in a similar expressive style that many other Platonic dialogues begin, with that of a question. The conversation between Socrates and the venerable Cephalus becomes a philosophical discussion of what advantages money has brought to Cephalus life. Cephalus replies that money has allowed him "to tell the equity and pay ones debts" (331 b). Nevertheless, Socrates believes this does not portray an accurate description of what justice is. The remain of the first book is a discussion of the definition of justice, mainly that of Thrasymachus definition. Socrates takes his rule role as an interrogator of peoples views. The conversation focuses on justice provided actually must be viewed in the context of how each individual can lead the best life possible.     Thrasymachus states that "justice is simply the amuse of the stronger" (338 c). In order to support this notion, he states that people who are in power in gover nment make laws, and since these people design these laws, they forget serve the interests of themselves. The laws will then be the justice of the subjects, and since the ruling contour could be restated as the stronger class, then justice could be stated as being in the interests of the stronger class. He goes on further to say that the dirty man is stronger than the just man is, and because of that, justice is a vice slice injustice is a virtue. Thrasymachus uses the example of private business to show how ...