The Republic written by Plato examines many things. It mainly is
about the Good life. Plato seems to believe that the perfect life is led only under
perfect conditions which is the perfect society. Within the perfect society there would
have to be justice. In the Republic it seems that justice is defined many different
ways. In this paper I am going to discuss a few. First I am going to discuss the reason
why Glaucon and Adeimantus see justice as being a bad thing and it is better to live a
unjust life.
Plato's elder brother Glaucon argues that the just man is only
just because of the fear that he will get caught and punished or the fear of having a bad
reputations. He explains this decision in the story of the two magic rings. The rings
of magic would make a man invisible whenever he turns it on his finger. He believed that
each man would act in the same manor. They would both break into houses unseen, and help
themselves to whatever they wanted. The just man would no longer feel the need to be
just. He would have two lifestyles one, being just in front of the eyes of the society
and two being the unjust man invisible unable to get caught. Glaucon say this proves that
people are just only because they find it necessary.
Adeimantus another philosopher and Socrates elder brother
brought up the fact that we should take a look at the kinds of things people actually say
when they get praised justice and condemn injustice. Adeimantus explains by saying that
fathers tell there sons to be just because of the good reputations and social prestige
that attaches to justice. So it is not justice itself that is recommended, but rather,
the respectability that it brings with it. He believes that the son will realize to be
just is only worth it if you can get a good reputation. Unless you are truly just the
gods will punish you but as we have learned from the poets the gods can be bribed so if
you
live the unjust life you can bribe the gods to not punish you. If an unjust person
fakes a good reputation then he can have a wonderful life. He says live a wonderful life
because the unjust man is said to live a better life because he could cheat and live well
but a just man has to live with what he has or earn his wealth honestly.
Glaucon points of justice as I see them are fake and unclear. He
says that if a just person were to have a magic ring then he would act as a true unjust
person because there is no fear of punishment. If he was a truly a just person then he
would not be unjust even if there was no fear of punishment. I define a true just man on
his spirit and intentions if he is only being just because of fear of punishment then he
is not just nor if he is only being just if he desire a good reputation. A man to be
truly just must desire and get his pleasure on living with what he as earned fairly and
helping others around him. Glaucon keeps arguing that the unjust man lives a better
life because he has the power and the wealth to boss the just man around and bribe the
gods so he does not get punished by them.
Socrates goes on saying that the life and surroundings are what makes
up a just person. A just person should be educated and trained of what is right and
wrong. The quality of the justice is to be found in the society. If a society is unjust
there can not be a just man coming out of the society because all he is taught is to be
unjust. I agree that a just man must be educated and trained to tell what is right and
wrong. I disagree with Socrates point that a just man is solely educated by the society
around him. I believe that a just man is not educated solely by the society but rather
educated by his parents and family and only barely influenced by the society. There
fore a just man can come out of a unjust city and live to learn the honest life
Adeimantus point of the father telling the son to be just only
because it will give you a good reputation can not be true you can not be just for those
reason they do not match up with the points Socrates points out when he say the quality
of a just man is learned by the society . Since a just man is influenced by his parents
the parents must be just. If they are telling there son to only be just because of the
fact it will give you a good reputation then the parents are not just therefore the boy
cannot be truly just. Socrates point of the quality of the just is brought up in this
story Adeimantus gives. The poets told us that we can bribe the gods so it does not
matter if we are just or unjust as long as we have the wealth to bribe our way out of
punishment. This is the bad education taught by the poets it represents all that the
just state is against. We should not have the option to bribe the gods with our wealth
to not be just that makes a false city.
The Republic is a book that showed views of justice and questions
of justice. Justice is the better way to live your life. Only if the you are a true
justice that is morally educated of the rights and wrongs and trained on how to control
the temptations to be unjust. The just life is the most fulfilling life because it is
spiritually happy with yourself. It is also the closeness with God and the feeling that
helping other is all you need for pleasure in your life. So to give my final conclusion
you must learn from your parents the ways to make your decision in your life and test
what you have learned out on the society. Then you will know if the man you think you
are is
really a true just man that thrives on the happiness of other people when you help them.
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