The Idea Of Justice In Plato's Republic

Plato’s Republic presents a complex case of what it means to be just and what justice is. Throughout the ten books Socrates, brought to life by Plato, meets various people and challenges their opinions on justice and the very ideals they held close to them. Socrates brings up many points in his lengthily debates with the characters he encounters. Plato uses the voice of his teacher to bring to light various angles for approaching the idea of justice and all it brings with it, in this life and beyond. In his final discussion with Glaucon, Socrates tells the story of a man named Er. Er’s tale is of his journey to Hades and the things he was shown during his brief tenure in the Underworld. Plato used this myth and its teachings as a way to impart …show more content…
Plato mentions this detail because he believes that only those with souls like his, philosophical souls, will be able to head this warning and spare their souls. Plato does not mention this because he is on a crusade to save the souls of the damned and the unjust. No, this serves as a warning to his students that souls can be both good and bad, it is their duty to think critically and wisely. Staying faithful to one’s beliefs and one’s belief in justice will lead to rewards in the afterlife. One cannot reap the benefits of the gods if they are wicked. While one can be just without being wise, the soul who choose tyranny as an example, only those who are truly wise, like the soul of Odysseus, will continue to prosper eternally. Plato uses the word persuaded in his text, I believe that is intentional. Plato knew that not everyone took his word as gospel, the Myth of Er was something that needed to be taught, not simply heard. Hearing the myth, it could be dismissed as a pretty bed time tale. Souls that do not have room for philosophy, those who cannot consider what they themselves do not experience, need to be persuaded to this