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The Paradox Of Socrates Perception Of Good

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The Paradox Of Socrates Perception Of Good
It can be said that the Athenian’s and their government are subsequently the prisoners in the metaphor of the cave for they do not appreciate what is to be true, but only opinions and appearances. They take gratification through what is untrue and anyone or anything that is to disrupt their perception of ‘truth’ can, like Socrates, be executed.
“…the law [politics] is not concerned to make any one class specially happy, but to ensure the welfare of the commonwealth as a whole. By persuasion or constraint it will unite the citizens in harmony…” (The Republic of Plato, pg. 234). Each person reaches their own happiness depending on their choices; happiness is the ultimate ‘good’ and good is individual justice in behaving good. The paradox of

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