Justice in Greek Philosophy - Essay Example

INTRODUCTION Greek philosophy is a philosophy that many concede has shaped the whole of Western philosophy ever since its inception. Alfred Whiteheadnoted this fact albeit with exaggeration when he stated that Western philosophy is nothing but a string of footnotes attributed to Plato. Greek philosophy since the beginning of time has often directed its focus on inquiry and reason. Scholars and philosophers of all times have made great attempts to define justice, Greek philosophers being no exception. This work makes a critical view of Plato's definition of the republic, justice and its (justice's) application in society. NATURE OF JUSTICE ACCORDING TO PLATO Plato, one of the Greek's ancient philosophers, ideally believed that sense-gained knowledge remains impure and confused, and that only the soul that contemplates and turns away from thinking carnally can receive true knowledge. He also believed that only the soul can know real essences of things, acquire knowledge of forms since the world as seen by the eye is nothing short of an imperfect copy (Bakalis, 2005). 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. According to this young man, justice is anything the strongest man decides that it is. Further, he states that whatever is in the strong man's interest is just. This argument is dismissed by Socrates after proving that strong personalities rarely get to know whatever is in their best interest; this cannot be just since justice in itself is a virtuous (Griffin, Boardman & Murray, 2001). Plato had quite a different view of justice; he believed that an answer exists that derives basically from reality's nature. In his republic, justice is defined as wisdom, courage and self-control; something close to righteousness and morality. THE REPUBLIC In Greek, the Republic refers to the character or order of a political society; its regime type or constitution. The republic also refers to the city-state governance in a Socratic dialogue written in 380 BC by Plato. The republic is a most influential work of political theory and philosophy, and is Plato's best work. In fictional dialogues with foreigners, Athenians and Socrates, Plato discusses the meaning of true justice (Griffin et al., 2001). He seeks to establish whether man is happier when just or unjust by imagining a society that is governed by the guardians and philosopher-kings. The dialogue also goes further to discuss the role of philosophers, the place of poetry, the Theory of Forms and the soul's immortality. Plato's Republic is to-date considered in respect of western philosophy to be one of the most influential works. The Republic essentially deals with the subject of how one can live well. This inquiry into how one can live a good life was shaped into two parallel questions: (1) what does an ideal state look like, or what is state justice (2) What makes a just person These questions naturally encompass others such as: how should the state citizen be educated, what arts need to be encouraged, what kind of government should state adopt, who should govern and what rewards should the governor receive, what is the soul's nature and what afterlife and divine sanctions exist (Griffin et al., 2001). The dialogue proceeds to cover almost all aspects of Plato's thought. Platonic thought as described by several central aspects that exist in the dialogue can be summed up into three main points; the nature of justice, the ideal republic and the allegory of the divided line and the cave (which attempt to explain the theory of forms as perceived by Plato). THE IDEAL REPUBLIC According to Socrates, if a person can define what a just state looks like then the person can apply that analogously to the just man. Plato on his part exposes in detail how a state can have wisdom, courage, justice and temperament - four great virtues. In his utopia, Plato divides men based on their innate courage, strength and intelligence. Those who are not exceptionally strong, bright or brave are suited to productive activities such as building, smithing and farming. Those who are to an extent strong, bright and especially courageous are best suited to policing and defensive professions. Also, those who are exceptionally gifted in virtue, courage and intelligence are most suited to manage the state itself (Bakalis, 2005). In consideration of Plato's ideologies it is noted that for him, a rule by the best (aristocracy) is the most ideal nature of state (Griffin et al., 2001). The lower end in Plato's view consists of the majority of people in the society, people he calls producers since they are best suited for engaging in productive activities. A smaller but still huge number of individuals form the society's middle section and consists of the police and the army; generally the auxiliaries. A very small and rare group consists of the brightest and the best people that are completely and permanently in control of the state. These are guardians who display wisdom in their government and in their personal lives much like the auxiliaries display courage. TEMPERANCE AND JUSTICE The state may be in a state of temperance if auxiliaries obey guardians in all possible ways, and both guardians and auxiliaries are obeyed by producers in all things. In the event that any of the lower groups fail to obey the higher groups, then a state of intemperateness comes into being. The state is said to be just in Plato's view therefore if the guardians are obeyed by auxiliaries and so in enjoyment; without grumbling about the exercise of authority over them (Griffin et al., 2001). Similarly, the state is just when producers willingly obey both the auxiliary and the guardians. By extending the analogy to the human being, intellect is identified with the guardians, bodily appetites with producers, and emotions or the spirit with the auxiliaries. Therefore when an individual's spirit is courageous, he is courageous and when and individual's intellect is wise then he is in himself wise. When the intellect rules over emotions, and the intellect and the emotions rule over bodily appetites then a state of temperance exists within the individual. An individual is hence just when emotions and the body appetites are subject to the intellect willingly and without coercion (Griffin et al., 2001). This definition clearly refutes Cephalus' suggestion that justice merely involves telling the truth and repaying debts. Socrates draws attention to the fact that certain circumstances could produce disastrous results even when these simple rules were obeyed without exception. For example, returning a weapon to an insane owner would be an instance that would not be a just action when the rule is strictly followed. This counter-example tends to show how much the prescribed definition of justice is incorrect. In fact, its application corresponds not with the ordinary notion held about justice. Similarly, Polemarchus' refined definition of justice as giving to each person what we owe is also found to be inadequate although it evades the earlier counter-example (Griffin et al., 2001). Socrates on his end states that treating our enemies harshly will more likely render more injustice than already they are and so disqualifies the definition. While Thrasymachus argues that injustice is better than being just, preliminary answers immediately come to mind. In opposition to the Athenian democracy (which ultimately led to Socrates' death), Plato advocates for an authoritarian or totalitarian government which many commentators seriously disagree with; the ideal Republic according to Socrates is staunchly antidemocratic even to an extent of banishing poets from the town. According to Socrates, just people usually receive their rightful rewards and are regarded superior to people who are unjust in character and intelligence. Karl Popper also accuses the Republic as being behind totalitarian regimes of Hitler and Stalin in the 20th century. However, no one basic answer states the dangerousness or benign-ness of the Republic. All societies believe that society-conceived justice is morally obligatory and as virtuous as the human soul should properly be. CONCLUSION Scholars and philosophers of all times have made great attempts to define justice, Greek philosophers being no exception. Greek philosophy for long has often directed its focus on inquiry and reason, and was influenced by mythological cosmogonies and older wisdom literature of the Near East. All societies believe that society-conceived justice is morally obligatory and as virtuous as the human soul should properly be. While according to Socrates, just people usually receive their rightful rewards and are regarded superior to people who are unjust in character and intelligence, Plato had quite a different view concerning justice believing that an answer exists that derives basically from reality's nature. In his republic, justice is defined as wisdom, courage and self-control. Justice, in view of the several proposed definitions includes telling the truth and repaying debts, as well as giving to each person what we owe them. Justice exists when an individual's emotions and the body appetites are subject to the intellect willingly and without coercion. Justice in modern definition is a concept that implies being morally correct based on rationality, ethics, natural law, fairness, law and equity. It encompasses proper ordering of persons and things within a given society. Many modern theories acknowledge the overwhelming importance of justice in the society. It can also be distinguished from compassion, generosity, mercy, benevolence and charity. REFERENCES Bakalis N 2005 from Thales to the Stoics Analysis and Fragments Trafford Publishing Griffin J Boardman J & Murray O 2001 the Oxford history of Greece and the Hellenistic world Oxford University Press Richard H 1999 Greek philosophy http://www.wsu.edu/dee/GREECE/PLATO.HTM retrieved on 16th April, 2009 Read More