Being a Just Person - Term Paper Example

Being a Just Person The question of what convinces people to act in a just manner has been pitched around for many centuries. Some Philosophers have proposed that people act in just manner for being anxious to act unjustly. The likelihood of negative outcomes guides them to remain on the right path. Other Philosophers have contended that the reason behind the just actions of people is the moral, cultural faith system that persuades them to be just and avoid unjust actions so that positive outcomes can be gained. However, none of these propositions inevitably considers the respect of justness itself as ground to behave in a specific way. Besides, each of these views contend that acting in a just manner is followed for the intention of personal-benefit, whether that personal-benefit is gratifying others by personal actions or discouraging others from negatively behaving. Platos "Republic" renders a predominantly fascinating debate on the subject of justice and the composition and development of a just action. The Socrates has explained the quality of a moral and just character by giving the example of a soul as well as a city named “Kallipolis”. It is essential for the claim to explain the nature of justice in terms of an imaginary city that symbolizes justice from all corners. But if wealth is associated with happiness would such a city is needed to be wealthy? For explaining his claim he emphasizes that such a city can be considered to be happy as a whole and cannot be demarcated into two big segments of rich and poor people. And to remain a just city it has been said that “I think the answer is this: let the city grow so long as there is unity among its inhabitants and consent to its government. If we accept this as a proper answer, we must hand down another instruction to our guardians: let our city be neither small nor large; let it be united and self sufficient” (423c). Then to explain the virtue of courage to be inherent in the city, Socrates explains that since bravery and courage is most often related to those segments that are assigned the duty of guarding the nation i.e. the armed forces. So such a conviction is to be made a fundamental part of the education imparted by the city’s rulers. To explain his claim he makes use of an analogy with dyers. According to Socrates, “Well, then, consider dyers. When they wish to dye wool so that it will hold fast the true sea—purple color, they begin by choosing a white wool then they prepare and dress the wool with great care so that the white may perfectly absorb the purple. Only then does the dyeing begin. What is dyed in this way is color-last and neither soap nor lye can dull the colors brilliance” (429 d). The reason for this comparison was that if the armed forces are properly educated then they will take on the institutional colors like a dye and will be able to resist solvents such as pleasures that may fade their determination. So in order to instill courage and dedication within the army, the claimed made by Socrates to educate them in a proper way is well justified by the analogy made with a dyer. In order to instill justice within the city, Socrates claimed that justice among the four mentioned virtues is the one that brings harmony among the other three. To ascertain the city to be just Socrates says that each of its class is restricted to its own business and is not allowed to exchange his trade with other. To explain his claim he started to compare the designed city with a human soul. To make the comparison more appropriate he claims that like the city having three classes, a human soul also has three components. He claims that, “nothing acts in opposite ways at the same time” (Plato 436c). To explain the three individual components of the soul, Socrates takes example of thirst and hunger. As thirst can only be met by drinking and hunger can be satisfied by eating. Besides it also happens that an individual might be hungry but still refraining from eating. So something would be there that is restricting them from satisfying their desires as there can’t be two opposite phenomenon taking place simultaneously. But in cases if an individual despite being hungry refrains from eating then there is from reasoning. So the two distinct part identified within a human soul are desire and reason. The third part on the other hand is claimed to be spirit which allies with reason against passions. Socrates explains that, “Now think of the man who believes that he has committed a wrong. If he is of a noble nature, he will not resent it if he subsequently suffers hunger, cold or other kinds of retribution. He would consider them just punishment” (440c). Thus having a noble nature restricted him from fulfilling his desires and this part was a distinct part of the soul called the “spirit”. Socrates’ explanation of justice had been regarded as a controversial opinion of his era, as he proposed the virtues that should be possessed in order to be just. As he claims that the justice in his designed city is analogous to justice within individual itself. But how a city could be made analogous to an individual? To answer this question, Socrates has provided that as the city has been fragmented into three classes so is a human soul characterized into three fragments and in order to be just, they both are required to have each of their fragment working in its territory in a correct manner without intersecting each other. As Socrates explains, “Let us not forget eithe0r that justice in the individual depends on each of the various elements in his nature doing its own work. It is proper that the reasoning element should rule because it is wise and capable of foresight in planning for the whole” (441e). While assessing the arguments provided by Socrates, it seems he is right that a just character is itself a desirable attribute rather to have an unjust character that evades punishment. The claim was justified in the discussion as a just character is proposed to be an outcome of a healthy soul and if health is lost then other gains lose their meanings and significance in life. A just individual strives to encourage justice for the interest of justness in itself. Being part of his nature he promotes a just environment. So, according to Socrates such an individual is naturally directed towards right and virtuous deeds. Such an individual is also explained to be deprived of knowing what evil is and similarly an individual who pursues unjust character and deeds is inclined towards such actions due to imbalance resulting in his soul. Socrates explains that, “the temperate man is one in whom the three elements are in harmony” (442d) and “justice is nothing else than the power that brings forth well-governed man and well-governed cities” (443b). A just man is not directed to the right path due to his internal illness that requires cure. So it can be said that following a just path and pursuing just actions is naturally beneficial and predicts the health of one’s inner self. If one’s soul is working in a proper manner, one will be directed towards the just path and will let other follow the same too while following the unjust actions results in dissatisfaction. So it is truly proposed by Socrates that being a just person is a reward in its own disregarding the other inherent benefits. Works Cited Plato. The Republic: Translation of: Respublica. Trans. R. W. Sterling and C. William.W.W. Norton & Company, 1937. Print. Read More