Plato and the State

A detailed Summary of Plato and the State


"In reality for a long time past we have been talking of justice, and have failed to recognize her," claims Plato in The Republic (153). Plato, being the brilliant philosopher that he is deals with justice and its virtues day in and day out. He is constantly questioning in a society where inquiries are not welcome. Throughout both The Republic and The Trial and Death of Socrates, Plato looks at justice from a number of different aspects. In reading them, one will be able to evaluate Plato's notion of justice, whether or not Socrates is a just person, and how Socrates compares to our society.

Throughout "On Virtue in the State and in the Soul" from Plato's The Republic, Socrates is searching for

the definition of justice. He decided that he and his friend, Glaucon, would have to determine the three

other virtues courage, temperance, and wisdom first. After they did this, justice would be defined by what ever was

The topic of wisdom was their first "stop" on their quest for justice. Plato's belief is that wisdom is held by

the guardians, a small part of society, that "have the only knowledge worthy to be called wisdom" (Republic 147).


material well-being far above anything or anyone else.

be courageous in virtue of a portion of herself which preserves under all circumstance that is not opinion about

The Republic, which Plato so often emphasizes, are constantly being supported by Socrates' words and actions. It is

concluded Plato within "On Virtue in the State and in the Soul" (169). Therefore, in order to comply with all

Socrates is guilty of wrongdoing because "he busies himself studying things in the sky and below the earth and



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Approximate Word count = 2425
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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