IB Philosophy HL - Plato's Republic

Sophist

A professional teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greece, known for their skill in persuasion. Sophists often questioned traditional beliefs and values, emphasizing relativism and the subjective nature of truth. There main focus was on winning arguments then finding a moral truth. Plato saw sophists as dangerous and corrupting the Athenian youth by teaching them argument and not virtue.

Socrates

Largely unpopular because he would use the socratic method to prove politicians wrong. His death was a political execution because he was seen to be unstable.

Thrasymachus

A prominent character in Plato's Republic who argues that justice is the advantage of the stronger. He embodies the Sophist's view that morality is subjective and connected to power. He plays the devil’s advocate and has a practical and cynical view of justice.

Dialectical method

A widely accepted idea is presented, then challenged and refined through questioning until a more sophisticated idea emerges.

Book 1

Polemarchus expresses the conventional idea that justice is “giving a man his due”. This comes from a definition given by Simonides.

Simonides

An ancient greek poet. His works were best known for their moral reflections and he contributed greatly to ancient greek philosophy.

Polemarchus argument of justice - book 1

“Justice is giving each what is owed”. This represent a broad concept of proportional fairness that was popular at the time. This means justice is giving what is deserved but not in a retaliatory sense. Then moves to “eye for and eye” which refers to the law of retaliation. This narrows the definition to helping friends and harming enemies.

Retributive vs. Proportional justice

Retributive is strictly around about punishments for a crime. Proportional fairness means treating people according to their virtue which can mean rewarding or punishing them.

Justice as reciprocity

When someone has done well they need to be rewarded. When they have done bad they need to be punished.

Justice as proper distribution

Giving each their due. Distributing respect and punishment according to what each person deserves.

Socrates justice argument - book 1

he argues whether it is just to harm anyone at, even your enemies. This would make their virtue worse which takes away from the idea of justice being good. Says the idea of “helping friends and harming enemies” is more the mindset of power hungry tyrants. Socrates refutes their definition by saying justice should not involve harming anyone, friends and enemies can be mistaken, and justice should only be about moral values.

Overall book 1

Thrasymachus argues justice is the advantage of the ruling ruling class and that it can be used as a tool to control the weak. He uses the example that men in business are not rewarded for their virtue but for being more powerful. He also compares the injustices and punishments of petty criminals compared to tyrants. Socrates challenges this argument by saying justice means obeying laws and these laws could harm rulers so it is not always in the best interest of the most powerful. Uses the example that a good doctor practices medicine to help people not for his own benefit, the same should be for a ruler seeking the best interest of his people not himself. Injustice breeds conflict so justice has to exist in a society. Says every man has a function and we need justice to be able to perform that function.

Might vs. Right

Thrasymachus represents a realist power based view of justice, justice is a tool for the powerful and injustice leads to success. As Socrates defends a more moral view where justice is a virtue and leads to the harmony in a society, it creates structure and order. This sets up the rest of the republic in defining justice.

Book 2

Glaucon and Adeimantus take over the argument. Previously Socrates has only said injustice is not good and has yet to prove why justice is good. They try to push Socrates to defend his position of justice. Glaucon’s main idea was that people are naturally injust and would act so if there were no consequence. But no one wants to suffer injustice so they follow the laws. Therefore justice is not a good thing but a necessary thing.

Justice as a social contract

Glaucon presents a form of social contract theory saying justice comes from an agreement among people that all want to avoid injustice. This idea influenced thinkers like Hume, Locke and Rosseau.

The Ring of Gyges

Glaucon tells this story to prove that people only act justly from fear of consequence. He says that if anyone possessed such a ring they would behave is the same way as the king. Which proves his theory that people only act justly because of their fear of injustice. These ideas align with psychological egoism which says all human action come from self interest. Socrates refutes this argument by saying injustice creates inner turmoil and makes you ruled by your desires as seen in the story. Also that a just society benefits all.

The perfectly just vs. The perfectly unjust man

Glaucon compares who lives a better life, the perfectly just of the perfectly unjust. Everyone believes the just man is unjust, he is hated and punished. He suffers constantly proving justice does not lead to happiness. The other man is unjust but appears just to society. He lies and cheats but everyone sees him as good. He becomes wealthy and powerful and is respected. Glaucon concludes that the unjust man lives a better life, this proves justice has no reward in itself and is only practiced when there is one. He challenges socrates to “Prove that justice is valuable.

Adeimantus - Why society falsely praises justice

Adeimantus refutes Socrates by looking at how justice is taught. He says society teaches that justice is only valuable if there is a reward. That religious teaching tend to favour the unjust like in myths about Greek gods, unjust people are still rewarded as long as they are making sacrifices to appear religious.

Teachings of Hesiod

This is what is meant when religious teachings are discussed. Hesiod was a Greek poet. He wrote “Theogony