Short Essay Draft: Plato’s Republic
I am going to present an argument made by Socrates in Republic: Book One where he presents reasoning as to why being a just person is better than being an unjust one. He presents three main points in support of his argument. First, he includes the idea that the just man is wise and good while the unjust is ignorant and bad. Then, he argues that injustice prevents internal order and effectiveness which is required to have a fully functioning soul. And finally, as good virtue leads to happiness and virtue is defined as excellence at one’s function, a just person is happier than an unjust one since he performs the soul’s function in the best way possible. After explaining these three key arguments, I will present …show more content…
He sees a just man as being wise and good while the unjust are ignorant and bad (349b, Plato), whereas Thrasymachus refutes this belief by arguing that the just man always receives less than an unjust one. He also believes that justice is the advantage of the stronger as seen in a city where rulers make laws that the people must obey and that benefit the rulers who maintain power (338c, Plato). Thrasymachus is insinuating that an unjust person could simply pretend to be good and still get all the benefits of a truly just person because no one will ever know, so therefore he is being resourceful and is the wiser one. This, as Socrates sees it, is not a true form of happiness as it is better and easier to actually be just than to pretend because internally, they will not actually be happy. Socrates claims that the just person, such as a craftsman, is searching to provide advantage to his subjects, instead of seeking to make money for himself. He argues that the concern for one’s subjects is separate from the concern to make profit (345c, Plato). Therefore, a just person is living the most virtuous life and being genuinely …show more content…
A just man may say that he is simply trying to perfect his craft to the best of his ability but there’s no way for him to know exactly what makes a “good doctor” or “good musician” if he does not study on those who are known as successful doctors or musicians. This oppose could argue that a just person is in fact comparing themselves to those in their craft and in a sense trying to be better. Even if they might not be trying to be necessarily more successful or better than their counter, they are still aiming to be like them because they recognize their skills as desirable achievements. This would mean are not actually performing the soul’s function better than an unjust person who in the same way, is trying to be better than others.
This argument could be refuted with Socrates’ idea that when comparing the just person’s aspirations for success as compared to an unjust person’s, the unjust is willingly trying to out-win the people in his particular craft. Although a just person may be trying to improve or compare himself to others not skilled at their particular craft, he is not aiming to do wrong by them. He is only trying to improve his craft for the benefit of his patients and is that is why Socrates believes they are positively utilizing their soul’s true
I am going to present an argument made by Socrates in Republic: Book One where he presents reasoning as to why being a just person is better than being an unjust one. He presents three main points in support of his argument. First, he includes the idea that the just man is wise and good while the unjust is ignorant and bad. Then, he argues that injustice prevents internal order and effectiveness which is required to have a fully functioning soul. And finally, as good virtue leads to happiness and virtue is defined as excellence at one’s function, a just person is happier than an unjust one since he performs the soul’s function in the best way possible. After explaining these three key arguments, I will present …show more content…
He sees a just man as being wise and good while the unjust are ignorant and bad (349b, Plato), whereas Thrasymachus refutes this belief by arguing that the just man always receives less than an unjust one. He also believes that justice is the advantage of the stronger as seen in a city where rulers make laws that the people must obey and that benefit the rulers who maintain power (338c, Plato). Thrasymachus is insinuating that an unjust person could simply pretend to be good and still get all the benefits of a truly just person because no one will ever know, so therefore he is being resourceful and is the wiser one. This, as Socrates sees it, is not a true form of happiness as it is better and easier to actually be just than to pretend because internally, they will not actually be happy. Socrates claims that the just person, such as a craftsman, is searching to provide advantage to his subjects, instead of seeking to make money for himself. He argues that the concern for one’s subjects is separate from the concern to make profit (345c, Plato). Therefore, a just person is living the most virtuous life and being genuinely …show more content…
A just man may say that he is simply trying to perfect his craft to the best of his ability but there’s no way for him to know exactly what makes a “good doctor” or “good musician” if he does not study on those who are known as successful doctors or musicians. This oppose could argue that a just person is in fact comparing themselves to those in their craft and in a sense trying to be better. Even if they might not be trying to be necessarily more successful or better than their counter, they are still aiming to be like them because they recognize their skills as desirable achievements. This would mean are not actually performing the soul’s function better than an unjust person who in the same way, is trying to be better than others.
This argument could be refuted with Socrates’ idea that when comparing the just person’s aspirations for success as compared to an unjust person’s, the unjust is willingly trying to out-win the people in his particular craft. Although a just person may be trying to improve or compare himself to others not skilled at their particular craft, he is not aiming to do wrong by them. He is only trying to improve his craft for the benefit of his patients and is that is why Socrates believes they are positively utilizing their soul’s true