The Nature of Justice in Society and the Individual...

The study of Ethics is a diverse one encompassing many topics and having many applications. Some of the age-old questions inherent to Ethics refer to the nature of justice. Justice is the one of the oldest concepts in existence and as such has been discussed by many a philosopher over the ages. Plato discussed Justice at length and this paper will discuss the following questions relating to justice based upon his findings: what is Plato’s account of the nature of justice for the individual, how does Plato build his account, why does Plato take it that the claim made by Thracymachus is altogether mistaken – if indeed he does? Plato finds that justice is the harmonious balance of the three elements of the soul.†¦show more content†¦This is like the case in which writing too small to be read, using eyes alone and solitary from a frame of reference, might be capable of understanding if it were to be found writ large elsewhere. â€Å"†¦we shall expect to find that the individual soul contains the same three elements and that they are affected in the same way as are the corresponding types in society,† (Plato 54). Therefore, Plato makes his case through his plan for an ideally just society. Plato believes that in many ways a minimal state is best; it provides for benefits of specialization, division of labor, and the capability to meet the needs of the people. The problems with a minimalist society are that some people within the society will always want luxuries, some people outside the society will want to take the benefits of the society, and that the benefits of the society are incapable of being guarded by guardians alone. This last point is made clear through Plato’s explanation that the presence of guardians requires the allocation of power to certain portions of society; any time that power is allocated it must be checked. Plato’s question is: who will guard us from the guardians? This question is not easily answered without causing a pattern of infinite regression; for to add more guardians is simply to create more of the problem. Plato also discusses the possibility of a luxurious state. In this state the needs of the people are met,Show MoreRelatedJustice Is The Legal Or Philosophical Theory Of Justice1503 Words   |  7 PagesJustice is the art which gives to each man what is good for his soul. Discuss. â€Å"Justice is the art which gives to each man what is good for his soul† and that is simply to say that justice is identical with, or inseparable with philosophy. (Cahn, Political Philosophy, 1-136) Justice is an order and duty of the parts of the soul; it is to the soul as medicine preserves the health of the body. In its current and cardinal definition is a just behavior or treatment; a concern for justice, peace, andRead MoreIdeal State1366 Words   |  6 PagesVII. In Republic, Plato explains the features of an ideal state and he claims that the kings should be philosophers. He thinks to govern a state and make social harmony properly philosophers should govern the state. At this point, I will try to clarify Plato’s ideal state and why kings should be philosophers and why they are the only ones to spread justice amp; wisdom. Main aim of ideal state should be to create a state which everybody is happy and equal. According to Plato, ‘’in establishingRead MoreComparison Between Plato And The Composition Of The Ideal City State1368 Words   |  6 Pages Plato and the Composition of the Ideal City-State in Parts I-III of The Republic Wei Ting Lee 500467076 Ryerson University Introduction Appearance versus reality is a pertinent theme in Plato’s dialogues. Yet, the precise nature of truth, the good and the beautiful all rely on contradiction, which the philosopher uses in his discussion of an ideal civil society. To properly understand Plato’s motivation, it is necessary to briefly explain his historical context: Athenian democracyRead MoreThe Between Plato And Plato s The Republic And Hobbes Leviathan1324 Words   |  6 PagesHow does a â€Å"just† society operate? What are the roles of the individuals? One of the earlier concepts of justice dates back to Plato and his work the Republic. Plato constructs his ideal state to find the meaning of Justice and dissects human nature and its role in society in doing so. Overall, he described justice in a hypothetical society where every individual does what they are best as. His ideal society is where individuals must perform its appropriate role and each must be in the right positionRead MoreAristotle And Plato s Views On Politics And Morality Essay1480 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle and Plato. Aristotle and Plato have two fundamentally differing views on politics and how it links to morality. Morality to Aristotle and Plato will be analysed through their version of how politics utensils morality to carry out legislation or create a universal manner carried out by the citizens. To achieve this, this essay will examine the following points, Human nature and human soul. This essay will argue how the human nature and human soul differ on its viewpoint of justice and moralityRead MoreAnalysis Of Plato s Republic And Aristotle s Politics1375 Words   |  6 PagesPolitical Society Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Politics both accredit nature to the teleological functions of men, women, and children. Nevertheless, each philosopher defines family differently to support their main goals of finding the right type of society. While Plato does not conform to the traditional definition of a family—with a husband, wife, and children—and instead defines the role of men and women separately, Aristotle uses the family as a microcosm of political society, in the hopesRead MoreThe Soul and the Body: The Writings of Plato1766 Words   |  7 Pagesrecorded history. Since the times of the Greeks and Romans, people have taken it upon themselves to question the reality of their worlds and to wonder what it is that causes people to behave the ways that they do and what it means even to just be human. Plato, one of the most famous of the ancient philosophers, was taught by another most famous philosopher, Socrates a man perhaps even better known than him. Unfortunately, Socrates was extremely critical of the social structure of his culture as well asRead MoreJustice Is The Interest Of The Stronger1453 Words   |  6 PagesI am of the opinion that justice is indeed in the interest of the stronger; the stronger being the will of the people. Justice is in the interest of the stronger. This view, first articulated by the Ancient Greek Sophist Thrasymachus, is the subject of much debate in one of Plato’s works The Republic, found in a fictional dialogue between Thrasymachus and Socrates. In order to understand the nature of this statement it is essential to analyse the nature of justice, what is meant by â€Å"the stronger†Read MorePlato’S Idea Of Civic Justice Displays A Criteria For Specialization1601 Words   |  7 PagesPlato’s idea of civic justice displays a criteria for specialization that holds each individual responsible for producing their own rendition of excellence that leads to a just life, which produces a just city, and ultimately civic justice. Plato describes civic justice as â€Å"†¦doing one’s own work provided that it comes to be in a certain way† (433b-pg.108). The idea for a just city was constructed in the book, Plato Republic, and in that blueprint, the ultimate goal was to have a just city, it shouldRead MoreThe Formations Of The Mankind System1568 Words   |  7 Pagesvarious changes and transformations. Humans as any other live beings created by nature have developed their own laws of living in order to control and coordinate the relations between them and to avoid chaos in community. Consequently, from this decision arisen another important question – in what way and by whom should the laws be developed and regulated. The main ideas of the laws are to protect the rights of every individual, to ensure peace, to state the norms of social behavior; therefore they should