Free Social And Political Philosophy Essay Sample

Plato and Justice in the Republic

The concept of justice is widely discussed in The Republic by Plato. Two definitions stand out as far as justice is concerned. One Plato suggests that justice is harmony. Secondly he implies that justice entails doing one’s own job as given to them by the authorities. Plato explores many theories in the form of analogies to define what justice is. The theories revolve around two main analogies; the division of parts of the state and the division of the soul in to parts.
According to Plato, the soul is divided into three main parts. These are the spirited, the rational and the appetitive. The appetitive part of the soul is tasked with several functions which includes thirst, hunger and lust. The appetitive part of the soul can crave for immoral gratification in its desires. It can appreciate irrational consciousness in the desires of the human body. Then there is the part of the soul that keeps the appetite contained and restrains its desires. This is the rational part. The rational part of the soul helps the individual to make rational decisions that are important for the general wellbeing of the soul and the individual. It takes care of the interests of the sou. The spirited part of the soul also plays a very important part in the survival of the soul. It is responsible for the strong will of the soul. The spirited part is what gives the soul the courage and vigor to survive various challenges that confront the body.
According to Plato, the spirited part of the soul work together with the rational part to control the appetitive part. Without the involvement of the two other parts, which Plato describe as ‘allies’, the appetitive part of the soul would go astray and the human soul would be without control. The unity of purpose that defines the way these parts work constitutes Plato’s idea of justice.
Then there is the analogy of the state and its workers. Plato explains that the state is divided into different types of people. These are the rulers, the workers and the soldiers. Each of these people is well trained for the jobs they do as their part of the state. Each person is evaluated personally to determine which group they belong to. Even the children cannot inherit these roles from their parents. They are expected to fit into any of the categories depending on their interests and capabilities.
According to this concept, the workers comprise individuals who are best fitted to perform specific types of labor in the society. Their main role is to provide the society with food, clothes and other necessities that the state may require for its daily operations. They are supposed to maintain obedience to the rules, who occupy a higher position in the society.
The two analogies examined above have similar structures. According to Plato, justice is the same in the state as it is in the soul. The workers can be likened to the appetitive part of the soul. Both must be moderated to be rational in their desires. This moderation is done by the rulers and the rational part in the state and the soul respectively. All are motivated to achieve one goal that is good to the state or soul. The result is a just soul or a just state.
Thrasymachus, in a conversation with Socrates, seek to contradict the ideas of immorality in an effort to define justice. He argues that while justice is beneficial to some people and virtuous, people should shun justice because unjust life is more advantageous and the unjust man is happier. Plato’s definition of justice indicates that a person cannot be happy without justice as the soul will be troubled.