Topic > The Definition of Justice in Plato's Republic - 796

Throughout the work of Plato's Republic, the true definition of justice is discussed. It becomes evident that Plato himself considers justice to be good because it is connected to the form of the greatest good. Plato's Republic also explains that justice is valuable in itself, in combination with pleasure and the rewards that come from it. However, since it is natural that men are always inclined to seek their own personal gain and benefit, it is obvious that true justice cannot be achieved due to the many forms and obstacles that present themselves to mankind. Therefore, the purist's ultimate idea of ​​happiness through true justice is madness. Justice is seen as both an individual and universal undertaking; it must be achieved on both levels to be complete. Plato's example in this regard is the comparison of the three parts of a person's soul: reason, spirit and desire, in combination with the three components of a good society: lovers of wisdom, victory and gain. These fragments are seen as “the best instruments for the purpose” (Plato, 116). They are seen as the best tools due to their ability to provide the right experiences. Through these tools man is exposed to the pleasures of gain, knowledge and honor. It is with these tools that man is able to position himself adequately on the scale of pleasure and pain. However, it is not enough that these elements of reason, spirit and desire at the individual level and lovers of wisdom, reason and spirit at the social level exist separately. It is necessary for everyone to coexist together in harmony to achieve justice. Because "there is a point midway between the two [pleasure and pain] where the soul rests from both" (Plato, 116). In other... half of the document... one should not compensate for the lack of a unified understanding of justice throughout history and time. Because of the evidence that unitary and universal justice exists, it is difficult to argue for the existence of justice. Justice does not exist naturally, but exists externally and superficially to enforce and discourage unjust behavior. Because of the questionable existence of the just, we refer to another of Plato's works, Euthyphro. In Eurptro Plato asks: “is the saint loved by the gods because he is holy? Or is he holy because he is loved?” (Plato, 11) with this mentality we question the validity of justice and whether it is possible that justice is just a fiction used to dissuade humanity from undesirable behavior, “since men do not practice justice in itself, but only to the respectability it affords - the aim is to gain a reputation for justice" (Plato 69)