Justice in The Republic

A detailed Summary of Justice in The Republic

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote "One man's justice is another's injustice." This statement quite adequately describes the relation between definitions of justice presented by Polemarchus and Thrasymachus in Book I of the Republic. Polemarchus initially asserts that justice is "to give to each what is owed" (Republic 331d), a definition he picked up from Simonides. Then, through the unrelenting questioning of Socrates, Polemarchus' definition evolves into "doing good to friends and harm to enemies" (Republic 332d), but this definition proves insufficient to Socrates also. Eventually, the two agree "that it is never just to harm anyone" (Republic 335d). This definition is fundamental to the idea of a common good, for harming people according to Socrates, only makes them "worse with respect to human virtue" (Republic 335 C). Polemarchus also allows for the possibility of common good through his insistence on helping friends. To Polemarchus nothing is more important than his circle of friends, and through their benefit he benefits, what makes them happy pleases him.

Upon the summation of the debate between Polemarchus and Socrates, Thrasymachus enters into the fray. He states that justice "is nothing other than advantage of

Another claim may be that Socrates was selfish for neglecting his family, but this may be his greatest sacrifice to the community of Athens. For like many other revolutionary thinkers, Socrates too had to make sacrifices in order to get his message of philosophy across, but near the end his love for his family and for philosophy come out simultaneously when he asks the jury to "Reproach them [his sons] as I reproach you that they do not care for the right things and think they are worthy when they are not worthy of anything. If you do this I shall have been justly treated by you, and my sons also" (Apology 41e-42). Although his greatest sacrifice my have been time spent with his family, the fact he never sought wealth or power (both at which with his intellectual capacity could have been easily gained) further adds to my belief he lived a community-serving way of life.

To further display that Polemarchus' definition of justice gives a better account of the "good life" I put forth my own definition of the "good life". I have come to conclude through the lessons life has taught me thus far that the "good life" is one composed of love and understanding. Love of one's self because with this I can maintain a sound mind and body, but without it I cannot love others. Love of family because they gave me the gift of life and I know I will share my greatest and lowest moments with them and they will still love me. Love of friends because they are my support group and are ready and willing to do for me

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Approximate Word count = 1018
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English