Analysis Of The Just Man And The Unjust Man

Register to read the introduction… He then goes on saying that we should let the just man and the unjust man have the power to do what they wish, as we sit back and look on: "Give each the just man and the unjust, license to do whatever he wants, while we follow and watch where his desire will lead each" (line 359c). Next, Glaucon states that the just man would be caught doing the same actions as the unjust man because they both want what's best and this is what's seen as good: "We would catch the just man red-handed going the same way as the unjust man out of a desire to get the better: this is what any nature naturally pursues as good" (line 359c). Finally, he says that the power that he's talking about can be easily told in a different way, in the story about the ancestor of Gyges, the Lydian: "The license of which I speak would best be realized if they should come into possession of the sort of power that it is said the ancestor of Gyges, the Lydian, once got" (line 359c-d). So, Glaucon is saying that a just man would be unjust if he had the power …show more content…
Next, he states that the just man would act just the same as the unjust man and that no person is just out of their own will: "And in so doing, one would act no differently from the other, but both would go the same way. And yet, someone could say that this is a great proof that no one is willingly just but only when compelled to be so" (line 360c). Finally, he says that men see injustice more profitable, when not being caught, then justice: "All men suppose injustice is far more to their private profit than justice" (line 360c-d). So, Glaucon states that once again men would rather be unjust for profits than be