Essay - Justice in Plato's Republic in the Republic, Plato Uses a...

Justice in Plato's Republic

In The Republic, Plato uses a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon, as a vehicle, to debate the issue of whether it is far more profitable for human k*****d to be unjust or just. In order to settle the *****, Plato first presents all ***** logical re*****ons in favor of injustice *****ing ***** profitable through Glaucon as the spokesperson, be*****e proceeding to record Socrates' demol*****hment of Glaucon's argument, which succeeds in clearly establish*****g that justice is by far the more profitable of the two.

***** builds his argument in favor of ***** fact that perhaps it is better to be unjust than just ***** po*****ting out the difference ***** ***** theoretical ***** practical view ***** ***** in the human pursuit of different types ***** goods. He observes that while in theory, the concept of justice would be placed in that category of ***** that are desirable both ***** themselves and for the rewards they bring, in practice people tend ***** view ***** largely in the context of goods that are pursued only for reward or reputation but are d*****agreeable in ***** (The Republic, II.20).

Based on the above disparity, Glaucon embarks on a quest to determine ***** very n*****ture of justice. He propounds ***** the common view of the nature of ***** is that all men practice justice against *****ir will, from necessity and not because they naturally desire ***** do so. ***** reasoning is based on the natural tendency in human nature to always seek ***** ***** her own *****terests, leading to a propensity *****wards injustice rat***** than justice. Th***** tendency gets further accentuated when appearance would have it that the unjust lead a far superior quality ***** life. Glauc***** then submits that humans only deter from ***** because of the fear of suffering from the consequences: "...***** being able to avoid the one and obtain the other...had better agree among themselves to have neither; hence there arise laws...." ***** this fashion, Glaucon concludes that the nature and origin of justice lies in a me*****n between "...the best ***** all...to ***** injustice and not be punished...and the worst of all, which is to suffer ***** without the power of retaliation...." (The Republic, II.21)

Glaucon continues building on his ***** that '...man is just, ***** *****ingly or because he thinks that justice is any good to him individu*****y, but of necessity," by challenging the fact ***** no man, however just, would be ***** to resist the temptation of gaining riches, ***** and pleasures if he thought that he could safely do so. Glaucon uses the st*****y of Gyges, ***** shepherd who won a king*****m ***** using the power of invisibility vested in him by the magic ring, to submit that even a 'just' man ***** not be able to ***** the ***** of using Gyges' ring to obtain all that he *****d (The Republic, II.22).

As a final clinching argument, ***** hypothesizes that if ever a situation arose where a just and unjust man were given everything