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Theories Of Justice And Injustice In Plato's The Republic

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Socrates views on Justice and Injustice In Plato 's The Republic, he sets out to inform the readers the theories of Socrates based on the topic of justice. He explains of what Socrates believes to be justice and why should we be just. This philosopher points out that it is better to suffer injustice then to do injustice. However, others disagree with Socrates. Polemarchus believes in showing justice to friends but harming enemies. Thrasymacus argues that justice does not have any benefits and makes one weak meanwhile making the other strong. The subject of justice comes about when Socrates and Polemarchus father, Cephales, start talking about old age. As they converse, Socrates asks about Cephales success. This is when Cephales brings up his definition of justice which is being honest and following legal obligations. Socrates disagrees with this by giving the example that …show more content…

Socrates argues that a person that is punished justly is "delivered from the evil of his soul." Socrates argues that the greatest evil is injustice, which is the evil of the soul. He says that "it is the most disgraceful, and also the worst." Polus agrees that injustice does stain the soul. Socrates asks Polus does "then the art of money making free a man from poverty; medicine from disease; and justice from intemperance and injustice." Polus agrees with Socrates 's statement. To prove a point Socrates states that a person who is being healed is being delivered from a greater evil and that is worth enduring the pain in order to get better. He relates this to the fact that it is better to be punished for your injustices because then you are delivering your soul from a greater evil. Socrates concludes that rhetoric is not useful to the person who is not planning to do injustice, he also states that this doing injustice do not need rhetoric, because Polus agreed that being punished for one’s injustice is better for your

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