Socrates Ideas Of True Justice In The Republic

An understanding of true justice is necessary to the ability of a government to be able to impose laws upon a populous and have those people willingly submit. In order to find the most correct version of justice, it is required to find what the origins of justice are. However, in searching for true justice (henceforth known as Justice) a summary of its’ attributes and reasons for each must be given. By examining how Socrates goes about finding the origin of Justice it will be clear what true justice (Justice) is and how this definition came about. The examination of the origin of Justice will be found by examining the separate versions of it individually. The first explanation is put forth by Glaucon. He postulates that justice was created …show more content…
Once the understanding of the origins of justice have been inspected then, the analysis of Justice can begin. The assessment will be in three stages for the three versions of justice put forth in the Republic. The first explanation is put forth by Cephalus. He postulates that Justice is telling the truth and repaying one’s debts. The second is posed by Polemarchus and follows that justice is giving what each man deserves (i.e. good unto a just man and bad unto an unjust man). The third version is posed by Thrasymachus and he poses that justice is what is profitable to those in power. After examining each version of justice rigorously, this paper will postulate the truest version of the origin of justice, then go on to suggest what aspects of Justice are true, and why the misinformation of Man has catastrophic consequences upon …show more content…
The Republic has several arguments put into place. The first explanation is put forth by Cephalus. He postulates that Justice is telling the truth and repaying one’s debts. As noble as Cephalus’ version of justice is, it is incorrect for there are scenarios in which this version of justice would be inaccurate. For instance, perhaps a friend lent you his weapon, but when asking for it back he clearly has murderous intent. Giving him back his weapon would be unjust because he would do unjust actions and the fault would lay with the man who gave him his weapon back. Similarly, one might have to lie in order to prevent the friend from obtaining these weapons and this action would be just. So speaking truth and repaying debts is not Justice, however there may be a different meaning behind Cephalus’ use of ‘repaying one’s debts’. Polemarchus believed so, he presented a version of justice in which a man does good to the just and wicked unto the unjust. The reason this is incorrect is because of the Just man. A just man will not do injustice to anyone. Justice is not doing good unto just people, nor is it always speaking the truth, perhaps it is simply to do good. To follow laws as well as pursue The Good with the actions one commits. Were this to be the case and Man were to follow it. The overall living of each individual would be better and the city that is in existence that would have this version of