Socrate's Concept of Good and Evil - Essay Example

The Concept of Good and Evil Socrates had to explain to Glaucon ‘what is good?’ because they were having a discussion with Cephalus, while they werevisiting a festival at Piraeus. At one point in the discussion, when Cephalus leaves to attend to the sacrifices of the holy festival, Socrates, Glaucon and others join in a discussion about being good. Glaucon was not convinced; and he wished to argue with Socrates that apparently, unjust people live a more successful life than the just people.

He wanted explanation as to why gods confer power and wealth to the unjust, powerful and evil persons only? Why virtue is not the scale of judgment of the gods to bless people? Why is it so that unjust people appear to have more material gains and lead a happier life than just people? To clarify this, Socrates explained to him that justice may be an individual virtue or virtue of the State. The main aim of explaining what goodness is all about is to lay down the foundation of a State or a Republic where the rulers serve in the interest of their subjects.

Being good is a very complex definition as it touches various aspects of the personality, the nature and the consequences of a person. For example, being good in old age; or while doing justice; or while distinguishing between a friend and a foe requires wisdom. He actually strengthened his argument for the major subject of his rhetoric i.e. the welfare of the State. He believed that the primary duty of the rulers of the State was to be good to them. The state should function according to the interests of the subjects- not the rulers.

The virtue of the rulers lies in being good to their subjects. The essence of being good is in being wise and just. Wisdom, justice, patience and forbearance are such qualities that drive a person to distinguish between good and evil. According to Socrates, one cannot label anything as ‘good’ or ‘bad’- but what ensues forth our actions determines their nature. A physician is a good example to explain this: a good physician would never prescribe anything that may be harmful for the patient- even if the patient desires for it and apparently there is no harm in it.

Similarly, a good friend would never suggest or wish for anything evil because he would do justice to his relationship just like the physician who shall be just to his profession. Thus it may be inferred that goodness does not in any way hurt or injure anything and it is associated with God. On the contrary, if something is seemingly good but injurious in some way or the other to oneself or the others is termed as evil. ‘Are you not aware, I said, that the soul of man is immortal and imperishable?

He looked at me in astonishment, and said: No, by heaven: And are you really prepared to maintain this? Yes, I said, I ought to be, and you too--there is no difficulty in proving it. I see a great difficulty; but I should like to hear you state this argument of which you make so light. Listen, then. I am attending. There is a thing which you call good and another which you call evil? Yes, he replied. Would you agree with me in thinking that the corrupting and destroying element is the evil, and the saving and improving element the good? Yes. And you admit that everything has a good and also an evil .

’(Plato, 393) Unjust people live an isolated life because they do not work for mutual benefit. They remain deprived of unity and communal bliss, as they are only interested in their personal gains. A person who understands how to balance his life is very likely to lead a good personal and social life. He would be happy in matrimony as well as in public life. Life is sure to recompense those who are good in spite of being born to humble families; and facing difficulties while doing justice to themselves, their professions, arts, or skills; their families and society in general.

I distinguish between good and bad by my personal reasoning and judgment. However, my judgment is based and tuned according to my religious beliefs and values instilled by my family and society. Though distinguishing between the two is very difficult because the way we live today has changed tremendously. This world is not what it was like 3000 years back- yet, Socrates scale of judging good and bad is workable even today. At the same time, it is highly difficult to separate things that are good in reality and those that are seemingly good.

Unfortunately, we are more concerned about the material gains and success in this world; rather than what is going to happen in the Hereafter. Work Cited Plato. The Republic. 1871.Trans. Benjamin Jowett. Forgotten Books. 2008.