Justice Is More Powerful Than Injustice - 1255 Words

In Book I of the Republic, Plato examines whether injustice is more profitable than justice. Thrasymachus claims that statement to be true so Socrates sets out to show that justice is stronger and more powerful than injustice. Also, that a just person is happy while an unjust person is unhappy. Socrates establishes right before with Thrasymachus that injustice is wisdom and virtue while injustice is ignorance. From this, Socrates believes it will be easily shown that justice is stronger. In this paper, I will begin by examining Socrates’ weaker argument that says a just person is happy. Here, he claims that the virtue of a soul is justice, and the soul has multiple functions that can only be performed well through justice. However, this†¦show more content†¦You would not use a carving knife or any other kind to prune a vine. Rather you would use a pruning knife because that is what it does best—pruning. Socrates articulates that everything that has a function h as a virtue. The eyes and ears have a function, therefore they have a virtue as well. Now, the eye cannot perform its function well—seeing, without its virtue. Deprived of this virtue it will perform badly. Likewise, the ear and pruning knife cannot perform their function well without their particular virtue. Also, they perform badly by means of their vice—the opposite of what allows them to perform well. Socrates furthers the argument by stating the same could be said for anything else (353d). From this, Socrates applies the idea of functions and virtues to the soul. The soul has a function so it equally has a virtue. Socrates states that the function of the soul is â€Å"taking care of things, ruling, deliberating, and the like†¦ (353d).† He also says that living is the function of the soul. The virtue of the soul allows it to perform these functions well and deprived of it, badly. Likewise, a bad soul rules and takes care of things badly while a good one does not (353e). The virtue of the soul is justice. Therefore, if something performs its function well by means of its virtue, then the soul will perform living and the other functions, such as taking care of things, well through justice. The