StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Plato's theory of justice - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
PLATO’S THEORY OF JUSTICE Name Professor Course Date Introduction Plato’s philosophy uses a famous area to emphasize on the issue of justice. Plato appeared discontented with the worsening condition of Athens. The democratic condition of Athens threatened to crash, which led to Socrates’ death eventually…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.5% of users find it useful
Platos theory of justice
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Plato's theory of justice"

Download file to see previous pages

At this point, Plato analyzed the different theories done by different philosophers and gave his own definition pertaining justice since he felt that justice needs a lot of interest and dedication. Plato defined justice from two main point of view: One being, justice from an individual point of view is that it is a ‘human virtue’ responsible for making someone self-reliable and of high quality1. Plato handles justice with seriousness, when he ends up using ‘Dikaisyne’, meaning justice, morality or even righteousness in Greek.

Morals mold the responsibilities of man, and the term monitors the whole behavior of man whenever another human being is concerned. Plato asserts that justice is the excellence of the soul, where man alienates unreasonable longing to explore on the pleasures of the world and satisfaction of self-interest pleasure from anything they handle and are comfortable with their way of life. Plato, Unhappy with the ongoing destruction of democracy in Athens, decided to write about it. He adopted Sophistic education of ethics which ended up with too much individualism stirring to attack the State Office selfishly up Athenians.

They ended up separating Athens into two antagonistic camps of the haves and the have-nots, tyrants and the exploited2. Later on, Plato felt that the nonprofessional ship, annoying nature and too much selfishness ought to be addressed. Plato addressed the matter by using a principled society with a perfect justice system to attack, since the research he had done showed that justice is the best medicine in an evil society. Hence, it is paramount that the society questions the shape of insinuated by Plato as an important principle of an organized society.

Notably, many philosophers have handled different justice theories were common. The answers to questions pertaining justice starts from the unsophisticated to the complicated elucidation. Therefore, it is paramount that the analysts ask why Plato disregarded some justice concepts3. Cephalus, a diplomat of traditional integrity of the early trading category, founded the traditional theory of justice. In his view, justice entails honesty and reassures payments of debts to the people one owes. This is the reason Cephalus equates justice with the right behavior.

Polemarchus supports Cephalus view concerning justice but alters some information. Polemarchus views justice as extending what one feel proper to one own self. This could be interpreted to mean that justice is pleasing friends while injuring the interests of enemies. The Greek traditional saying also adheres to the theory4. While Cephalus and Polemarchus to support the view, on the other hand, Plato is criticizing the view. According to Plato, Cephalus view was limited, as in a case where the formula infringes the will of right; his method does not accommodate proper acceptable opinion of life.

It is wrong to bring the deadly arms to a mad man. Polemarchus was criticized by Plato, arguing that it is easier said that done. For example, if one is a friend in an outward manner, and the enemy in truth. How wills one go about the problem? Is there a possibility to do him right as per the definition or act according to the real feelings and administer evil, yet this was contrary to moral requirements. The notion of justice only worked on the relationships between individuals and neglected the rest of society5 .

Thrasymachus, on the other han

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Plato's theory of justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1459089-plato-s-theory-of-justice
(Plato'S Theory of Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/history/1459089-plato-s-theory-of-justice.
“Plato'S Theory of Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1459089-plato-s-theory-of-justice.
  • Cited: 4 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Plato's theory of justice

Plato's Idea that Justice Is a Condition of the Soul

A search for the meaning of justice would ultimately lead to two meanings: Justice is doing personal job precisely, and Justice is harmony.... The overall aim of Plato's idea that justice is a condition of the soul is to give a defense of justice through showing that an in individual is better off when he is just than when he is unjust.... Plato's description of justice as every part carrying out its part of balance is satisfying, but most significantly, they must be all balanced....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Platos Defense of the Republic King in the Republic

Plato's explanation of his theory of justice, as articulated in his ideology of a city in dialectics, affirmatively attributed the rule of the rational mind as implicated in the formation of philosopher-king, having the ability to take a hold of the Idea of the Good.... While reprimanding some of Plato's proposals, Leo Strauss in practice undermined the concept of justice by illustrating the city is not a real one but an abstraction.... The idealization of the Good is described as the child or offspring (ekgonos) of the Good, as ascribed by the superlative model of goodness, hence attributing to the absolute determinant of justice....
20 Pages (5000 words) Essay

Justice in Greek Philosophy

The immense dialogue in the Republic is opened by questioning the nature of justice.... Several definitions of justice are proposed which are found to be inadequate except that at least more emphasis is put on Sophist, Thrasymachus' definition.... Plato had quite a different view of justice; he believed that an answer exists that derives basically from reality's nature.... The dialogue also goes further to discuss the role of philosophers, the place of poetry, the theory of Forms, and the soul's immortality....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Plato's parable allegory of the cave expresses his doctrine of Ideas or Forms

plato's philosophy is very much the outcome of the political climate of the period to which he… His writings are a call for man to strive towards the establishment of an ideal political world. Plato was born in Athens, Greece, in 427 B.... The aim of the academy was to instruct young men to become the ideal statesmen who would usher in the ideal world of plato's writings.... plato's life shows that, in addition to being a philosopher, “he was a man of the world, an experienced soldier, widely traveled, with close contacts with many of the leading men of affairs, both in own city and elsewhere” (Field, qtd....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Platos Understanding of Virtue in the Republic and Virtue in The Meno

His ethical theory rests on the assumption that virtue is knowledge and can be taught, which has to be understood in terms of his theory of Forms.... His ethical theory rests on the assumption that virtue is knowledge and can be taught, which has to be understood in terms of his theory of Forms.... However, in the last paragraph of the first book of Plato's The Republic, he attempts primarily to give an answer to the question "what is justice?...
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Platos Theory of Human Nature

Socrates refutes Thrasymachus view and the opinions of the other interlocutors by claiming that the interest of every individual is plato's theory of Human Nature plato's theory of Human Nature Plato's defense of justice portrays his perception of the human nature.... The paper describes plato's theory of human nature and describes how he succeed and ways he failed.... It then tries to relate plato's theory of human nature with his theory of politics....
2 Pages (500 words) Article

Just and Unjust Ruler in Plato's Republic

From time to time Socrates interferes into a conversation, and the company agrees that there is no reason to discuss the notion of justice without regard to society.... he socio-political philosophy of Plato, his theory of politics, is an integral part of Plato's philosophy.... (Marinoff,2000)“What is justice?... In the paper “Just and Unjust Ruler in plato's Republic” the author focuses on the problem of government, which is one of the most complex and controversial issues facing humanity....
11 Pages (2750 words) Article

Justice Defined by Plato

Plato's theory of justice encompassed the fact that justice is the only remedy available for curing the evils like individualism and meddlesomeness which destroy the essence and fair practices for society.... According to Plato's theory of justice, 'dikaisyne' includes within itself factors like righteousness and morality.... he theory of justice coined by Plato discussed that justice is a significant form of human virtue that is useful in making a human being self-conscious, good, self-consistent, and self-aware....
7 Pages (1750 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us