plato

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The Use of Dialectic to Define Justice

Through the use of Socratic dialogue, Plato has an advantage at obtaining answers by refuting other philosophers. Plato is able to achieve an answer to the question, what is justice. He derives this answer through an analogy of the ideal city. The ideal city parallels the concept of the ideal person as Plato uncovers with the aid of dialectic. Plato defines justice as a function of harmony, which must first be achieved in an individual before being extended to the city. Speaking through Socrates Plato defines justice as a philosophical understanding of excellence in the organization of society and human soul.

In book IV Socrates refutes the notion that justice is visible, while using the Socratic method of dialogue. He questions that justice is the virtue that has no physical representative. Through the state, Socrates inferred that justice can be understood as opposed to being seen. In order to grasp the concept of the ideal city or the happy state one must first analyze its components. Plato does this with dialectic. Then he questions that each individual is a member of one of three groups: Rulers, Guardians, and the Producer class. Each one of the specifications of labor

is able to make a statement about moderation through the dialectic used with Glaucon. Through Socrates, Plato derives that moderation is the attribute of the producer class in the state as well as the body of the individual. Plato felt everyone within the state had to give there loyalty to the state. Plato defines this as everyone doing their own work for the happiness of the state, while not interfering with the work of another.

Justice is the virtue found within the other three virtues: wisdom, courage, and moderation. Each of these virtues exists in the state as well as in the individual in the form of the mind, body, and soul. Within the state the ruler is wise and rules for the happiness of the state. This is paralleled in the individual through the mind. The individual's courage is contained in the spirit, whereas, the state's courage comes from the guardians. Only through the use of dialectic could Plato have come to the conclusion that moderation is the virtue that is consistent in each part of the individual and the state. "And when the citizens agree in this way, in which of them do you say moderation is located? In the ruler of the ruled? I suppose in both."(107,431e) This is exemplary of the advantages that dialectic gives to a philosopher. Here Plato

After Socrates has found the other three virtues in the kallipolis, he then moves on to justice. Socrates felt that justice was the virtue that was left over. Justice was an understanding in the kallipolis of each individual performing their job without interfering with that of another. Socrates placed the other three virtues first and as a result he arrived with the conclusion that justice or morality is achieved through a harmony of the others. Therefore Socrates defined justice as a function of wisdom, courage, and moderation all working together to produce the best for the state. Justice was considered as the harmony of the city as well as an individual.

within the kallipoli

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Approximate Word count = 1332
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English