Great Dialogues of Plato: common themes and interpretations

Philosophy: Gr. Dialogues Plato

The Great Dialogues of Plato

Sketch a composite portrait of Socrates you see in the trial-and-death dialogues; is the "Socrates" of the Republic much of the same, or different?

The Socrates of the "Apology" and "Crito" is a fundamentally different Socrates than the philosopher of the "Republic" in his attitude and stance before the populace. The Socrates in the "Apology" is a man in defense of his entire career -- occasionally abrasive, but ultimately affectionate, if not entirely respectful to the institutions of democracy and free thought that first embraced him, then tolerated him, and now rejects him. This sense of indebtedness continues over into the "Crito." Socrates refuses to accept the venue of escape offered by his friends, followers, and associates because the laws of Athens protected him. He states that as he accepted the Athenian laws strictures and guardianship, and thus he must also respect the judgment of its laws.

In contrast, the "Republic" attempts to create a new society, rather than attempt to negotiate a caustic philosopher's relationship with an existing democratic governing body. The "Republic" outlines a new view of society, based upon a tri-part structure that is oligarchic rather than democratic, and the Socrates of this text has no respect or feeling for the Athenian climate and institutions that gave him life, and until the very end, liberty of speech and movement.

What seems to be Socrates' working (or formal) definition of "Justice" in the trial -- and Death dialogues, and is it the same as in Republic? Would the Harmony discussed in Republic IV qualify as a sort of Justice?

According to the Socrates of the "Republic," justice is defined as the human being's ability to fit his or her destined function when living the idealized state of the title. In other words, those most fit to be cobblers should be cobblers, not rulers or warriors, and those with the most philosophically inclined minds should be the rulers of the state, and this creates a just or unified republican state. The definition of harmony of the fourth book is thus commensurate with the justice of the first book of "The Republic" -- the unity, harmony, and perfection of the ideal forms of the heavens are mirrored in a unified and harmoniously operated state, in the Platonic view as expressed by Socrates. But Socrates, as he speaks to his fellow Athenians in a law-court, making a plea for his life, is far more elementary in his definition of justice -- he argues he is not guilty of the charges of atheism and of corrupting the Athenian youth and rebuts the allegations in a fashion to suggest that it would be unjust, on the terms of the existing law, to convict him.

Likewise, the philosopher refuses to escape the confines of his prison because he argues it would be unjust of him to live in Athens under the protection of its laws, and then to refuse to obey them to the death, simply because he disagreed with them in part -- here, only echoing the Socrates of the Republic in his emphasis on unity.

Compare/contrast Socrates' attitude towards the city in the trial -- and death dialogues with the Republic.