Philosophy Essay Sample

In “Plato’s Republic” book one, Socrates argues against Thrasymachus’s argument, “justice is the advantage to the stronger”. Thrasymachus’ claim was that full injustice is more beneficial than full justice is because it enables the unjust obtain enough. He claims that unjust individuals are always prudent and good. His claim on the just individuals is that they are naive and stupid. In his characterization of the just individuals, Thrasymachus uses three claims. He refers to just individuals as people who do not want to obtain the best of other just individuals1. The just individuals will not attempt to attain a just course, and desire to defeat the unjust, not the individuals who are just.

On the other hand, he refers to unjust individuals as those who aim at defeating both the unjust and just individuals. He also claims that the unjust will always attempt to reach the unjust and just equally. Thrasymachus’ claims are not correct. This is because if they were true, the unjust individuals should be the same as other individuals that are both good and prudent. On the other hand, the just individuals should be naive and stupid2. This argument is evident even in the case of a musician and a physician. A musician may be good and prudent in music. On the other hand, a good physician may be prudent in medicine. These individuals cannot attempt to defeat each other either in lyre turning or healing patients.

The physician always aims at appropriate health while a musician at achieving an appropriate turning. In common, prudent individuals do not always aim at capitalizing on their fellow prudent individuals. These individuals often make their options in the same manner as other prudent persons would make them. However, they often attempt to establish better options than other prudent individuals would establish. In accordance to Tharysmuchus’ characterization of unjust individuals, these individuals will often attempt to capitalize on both the unjust and just3. This means that, concerning this viewpoint, the unjust individuals do not resemble the good and prudent people. The unjust individuals, therefore, cannot be considered as to be both wiser and better than the just individuals are even when they have both wealth and power. Tharysmachus in his argument concerning justice established three claims. The first claim was that justice gives advantage to the strong individuals. He also claimed that justice that justice provides the ruler with an advantage. The third argument was that, justice is a good of another. Socrates in response to these arguments appeals using the analogy of craft. He claims that crafts are concerned with perfecting their objects. This, therefore, implies that governance should focus on the subjects’ interests.